Exile on main street | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Shopkeepers are angry a hospice shop has opened in their genteel beachside suburb. Valerie Schuler poses the question: should charity begin at home, or does it just lower the tone?

St Heliers Bay Village offers a tranquil shopping oasis. The main strip is lined with  boutique stores selling antiques, gifts, flowers, gourmet breads and coffee. Wait a minute ... a second-hand shop?

This is not necessarily what you'd expect to find in this upmarket suburb. It is not what local shop owners expected either.

"It's just not suitable for main street St Heliers," says one local shopkeeper, who wishes to be anonymous.

"Of course a hospice shop does a great job, but it should not be commercially aggressive. Their signage is overwhelming and they are selling everything the village already has: clothing, furniture and books. All their stock is donated and they don't have to pay staff. It's just not an even playing field."

Other shopkeepers' concerns include donated goods being left on the footpath outside the store, furniture delivery trucks taking up precious parking space and the store making St Heliers look like "another Panmure".

The Dove store is run by Eastern Bays Hospice. It opened on September 23, despite widespread controversy.

The hospice already has two stores nearby in Glen Innes - one on Mayfair Place and another on Apirana Ave.

"These do very well, but we can maximise donations in St Heliers because people can afford to pay more," says hospice manager Janine Ewan. "A jacket that sells for $10 in Glen Innes could fetch up to $70 in St Heliers."

She says the hospice has taken into consideration the boutique feel of the bay and has set up its new store accordingly. There's a loading bay right outside and a warehouse manager ensures donations are not left outside the store after hours.

"Within just a few weeks, we've enjoyed a huge amount of support from the community. Some shops have even donated goods for us to sell."

But the concerned shopkeeper insists a hospice shop does not belong in main street St Heliers.

"It's downgrading the village and my customers wouldn't be seen dead walking through the doors. Surely there's a more suitable location?"

Another shopkeeper, Di Holland from Bagatelle, says she, too, was shocked at first, but she has got used to the charity shop.

"It is an unusual place to have it. But it is what it is. People who shop there will shop there and those who won't, won't."

The local business association met shopkeepers last month to discuss the issue.

Manager Wendy Caspersonn says the hospice shop has received both positive and negative responses.

"It's the work of our organisation to support all businesses that come to St Heliers.

"It's up to the tenant to decide whether or not something is viable," she says.

The space occupied by the hospice shop was previously a menswear store which, according to locals, was "much more St Heliers".

But, for now, the Dove shop is here to stay.

"We have signed a long-term lease and are not going anywhere," says Mrs Ewan.

Donations of quality used clothing and furniture are welcome. More info, see: www.ebhospice.org.nz