Busy Corner Store

Selling anything you want

Operating in the early 1900s

George and Lucy(nee Rickit) Reid opened The Busy Corner Store on the corner of Tongariro and Horomatangi Streets just half-a-block south of Rickit’s store in the main street. George smoked trout, carted loads of firewood, sold coffins and Lucy dispensed fishing tackle as readily as sewing thread and flour. From 1915 until 1932, they ran a bottled soft drink factory behind the shop, producing their own “Wai Maori” label fizzy drink.