By Sarah Falson
MAITLAND: Harvey Norman Maitland has closed and will re-open only doors away from Joyce Mayne, in the new Maitland shopping complex in the Hunter Valley tomorrow.
The centre, which is located on the New England Highway will be a “massive development for Maitland,” at over 100,000 square feet, said Joyce Mayne general manager, Geoff MacDonald.
The Harvey Norman store, which is 7,000 square metres, will be located on the same floor as the 2,800 square metres Joyce Mayne store.
Harvey Norman general manager – electric, David Ackery, told Current.com.au that the current Harvey Norman Maitland store on High Street in Maitland is no longer sufficient for the area.
“The old store is tired and too small for the amount of business we do there,” he said.
According to Ackery, the chance to place both a Harvey’s and a Joyce Mayne in the same centre was not a question of why, but rather, “why not.”
“We’re putting together a new offering for a new town centre,” said Ackery.
The current Harvey Norman Maitland franchisor, Greg Marron, will transfer his position along to the new premises. Marron is currently spending most of his days at the new store, which doesn’t have a phone-line connected yet, but a spokesperson at the store on High Street told Current.com.au that all the staff from the older store will be transferred to the new store, with some additions in each department.