By DANIELLE GALVIN
CHEAP Groceries in Pakenham isn’t going anywhere just yet.
Ron and Pauline Stivey, who have run the business for nearly 35 years, were close to calling it quits last year but community advocate Jeni Mathieson has been helping the business relaunch.
Ms Stivey explained that the decision at the end of last year to finish up was not an easy one to make, but soon they changed their mind.
“We were going to close, because it just got too hard,” she said.
“We gave it a long hard think, and we thought if we can help we should.”
Ms Mathieson said they wanted to be able to help people struggling at the moment and make their money go further.
“They are the cheapest in Pakenham it’s not just a sale this week and a sale the next week, you can come in and know you are getting the best deals,” she said.
Cheap Groceries has been running in the shire from Tynong North to different sites in Pakenham for 33 years. It was this history and their important community work that made them decide not to finish up just yet.
“It was a really tough decision – we have been asked so many times why are you closing and told that many little businesses are closing,” Ms Stivey said.
Ms Mathieson said the relaunch means they could continue to help community groups like schools, football clubs, kinders and more.
“This will take off and it will also mean more employment in the shire,” she said.
