A scheduled power outage around the Otumoetai Rd area yesterday forced at least two Cherrywood businesses to close and a video store to fork out about $200 in order to keep the doors open on one of its busiest days of the week.
Cherrywood United Video owner Carey Gordon hired a generator so he could keep the using the computer hiring system, phone and eftpos, and stop the icecreams from melting in the fridge.
He also hired some large lights to brighten the darkest areas of the store, while the power was cut from 8.30am until 4pm.
"I had to do something. It's probably cost me a couple of hundred all up but it's better that than close. A good Sunday, we'll do a couple of thousand," he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Gordon said Cherrywood Cafe had shut its doors for the day, and Cherrywood Sunshine Fast Food cooked fish and chips and Chinese smorgasbord using gas, without lights or a till until the power came back on.