When Tracey Page-Pepper pulled down the roller door to her Raymond Terrace fashion boutique store on Wednesday afternoon it marked the end of an era.
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After 25 years the Page One boutique inside Terrace Central closed for good.
“I’m sad, I’m joyous, I’m a bit of everything. There’s mixed emotions,” Ms Page-Pepper said. “I’ve seen lots of changes over the years, seen lots of businesses come and go, lots of changes to fashion.
“I have an emotional attachment to it [business]. It has literally been half my life. But now it’s time for me to do something a bit different.”
The owners of Terrace Central, Panthera Property Group, asked Ms Page-Pepper to vacate two weeks ago to make way for renovations which will expand the shopping centre’s food and retail offerings.
“It is our intention to continue working with all tenants of Terrace Central as we continue to formulate those plans,” Panthera Property Group asset manager John Davidson said.
“While we admire those who have decided to stay on our journey, we also respect those who have been offered every opportunity but have decided not to renew their lease.”
Ms Page-Pepper said that while the vacate notice was a “kick in the guts”, she was glad the centre was undergoing a renovations.
“I knew I’d have to move but I didn’t think I would have to move out,” she said.
“But it’s progress. The centre needs to be renovated, everyone knows that. It’s pretty tired. I just didn’t think it would be at my expense.”
Ms Page-Pepper took a gamble with Page One. The fashion boutique store, which had been called Shazzam, was already established in Terrace Central when Ms Page-Pepper bought it in 1993.
“I’ve always been into fashion,” Ms Page-Pepper said. “I always used to see this little store down the other end. It was Shazzam back then when I bought it.
“I used to walk past and think ‘if that was my store I’d do this’ or ‘I’d do that’. It came up for sale one day and I bought it. It was the biggest gamble because I had a really good job. It was probably the biggest decision I’ve ever made.
“I bought it but never looked back.”
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Ms Page-Pepper renamed the store Page One and stayed in the same shop, opposite the post office, for 10 years. She moved to a shop in the middle of the centre where she remained for 15 years.
“I grew it and had a fabulous clientele,” she said. “I have people coming to me for years. People who have had babies and their kids have come to me because their kids have had kids.
“I’ve had people come in crying, saying ‘it’s the end of an era, you’re my go-to store, you’ve always helped me’.
“I feel sorry for my customers who don’t know because this has happened over two weeks. I feel sorry for the people who come tomorrow and I won’t be here.
“Everyone is devastated and sad because it’s the end of an era. And there’s no little boutiques around anymore. They’ve all gone by the wayside. I was probably the longest operator in town of a boutique.”
Ms Page-Pepper thanked her long-time employee Linda Griffiths and mum Carol Page for helping out with the store in the past 20 years, and all her clients.
“To all the wonderful people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made, you all know who you are, I say thank you for all your continued support and friendships over the years. I will never forget you.”
Ms Page-Pepper said she plans to take some time off but will stay in Raymond Terrace.