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hen was Invergowrie Store established? The store is pretty unique in that it has only had four owners in its existence. It was built back in 1977, when the area of Invergowrie began to build as a place that people wanted to live and there were smaller property blocks available. It was the basic shape it is still today, and each owner has put their individual stamp on it, with the addition of petrol station, gas filling facilities, and the cooking of takeaway food. When and why did you both decide to take it over? We took over back in July 2005. We decided to take it over, as Barney had lived in this area most of his life, and his family used to get the paper here every day. I was pregnant with our first daughter, Ashley, and was approaching maternity leave, so we took the plunge - and
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Natalie, Barney, Barney’s Mum Dee and their three children call Invergowrie their home - they love the beautiful country lifestyle nestled between Armidale and Uralla. Invergowrie Store has a long history and serves as a hub for the close-knit community. This gorgeous little store is more than just your average business ... have not looked back. which we have townies come to get now. Tell is about the store’s evolution Our coffee is great, using local roasted over the past 11 years? beans, and of course we have our The store has evolved coffee cards - sixth cup free. hugely over the last 11 We are a licensed takeaway The store has years. We have made bottle shop and have a evolved hugely many changes, beautiful gourmet ice ars. over the last 11 ye y from the change cream range available. ve made man ha e W of colour of the We have all e changes, from th the exterior to the newspapers available of ur lo co change of or ri te in interior floor and and are the Elgas/ e th to or exteri dition the addition of the Kleenheat gas bottle floor and the ad sail e ad sh large shade sail in contractor for the area. of the large ” the beginning. in the beginning. We are a Community We have tarred the Post Office, with all the carpark and landscaped locals able to post and receive the gardens, added seating their parcels at the shop. which is used a lot on the weekends We are well known for our especially in the gardens. competitive fuel prices, with many We have included a large range of Armidale locals travelling out from town. takeaway foods on our extensive food What do you love most about what you menu. The best is, of course, our pizzas, which do? we offer Thursday to Sunday nights, and We love the location and the lifestyle of the
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Invergowrie area. It is close to town, where all three of our children go to school and Natalie works as a Department Manager at Coles. We love being at the store, as our customers are part of our lives. We have lived through their births, deaths, marriages, as they have with the birth of all our children, Ashley, Andrew and Amanda, with Ashley now a staff member at the ripe age of 11. Plans for the future? We hope to fine tune and improve everything we offer our customers. We are getting more and more groups, especially in the warmer months, come out for events. The Armidale Road Rider Motorcycle Group do night rides out for pizza nights, community bus groups come from other towns for a drive with the elderly, we have a lovely group who come every Tuesday for coffee and a yarn. Many bike groups make a stop, as we are just the right distance from town when they are training. Thanks Natalie.