Dimmeys set to open after $2m loss

Dimmeys staff Christine Hoath and Kristina Warren, store manager Denise Larsen, Vicki Hayter and Todd Modrow, are excited Dimmeys is reopening on Monday.

Scottie Simmonds

AFTER almost six months and the loss of about $2 million in revenue, Bourbong Street store Dimmeys will reopen for business on Monday.

The store was knocked out of operation on January 24 when an underground pipe burst, sending a 60cm wall of water through the store and ruining stock and much of the shop's fittings.

Shop management were at first hopeful the store would reopen within a month, but as the clean-up continued the scale of the disaster was revealed.

The force of the water running through the store ripped many of the tiles off the floor, and when the floor coverings were pulled up to be replaced it was discovered there was asbestos underneath.

The asbestos had to be removed by experts, a process manager Denise Larsen estimated cost about $10,000.

And although shop management would not speculate yesterday on how much the closure had cost in revenue, back in March they estimated that keeping the doors closed for three months had cost about $1 million.

Factored into the cost would be the new floor coverings, fittings, stock and cash registers.

But on Monday all the heartbreak will be put behind them when the new-look store is again open to the public.

“It has been a very difficult time,” Ms Larsen said yesterday. “But when people see the new stuff we have in it will all be worthwhile. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.”

The revamped Dimmeys will employ about 25 people, most on a casual basis, and Ms Larsen said she had tried to get as many of her old staff back as possible.

“A lot of them were casuals and they went and got other jobs,” she said. “You can't expect them to sit without a job for six months.”

Ms Larsen said staff had been preparing for the grand reopening on Monday for about two weeks and the store looked better than ever.

“It will be a big relief to be back to normal next week,” she said.