Kaitāia's Rider Sports Depot will be under new management after Mike Rider (centre) sold the family business to Kane and Laura Attwood.
Kaitāia's Rider Sports Depot will be under new management after Mike Rider (centre) sold the family business to Kane and Laura Attwood.
Founded in 1953 by Dudley and Madge Rider, the iconic Rider Sports Depot in Commerce St, Kaitāia, has weathered decades of change as it served sporting enthusiasts for the past seven decades.
Now their son, Mike, will this week be passing the reins to Kane and Laura Attwood, a local couple with deep ties to the Far North.
The couple hope to continue the Rider legacy, which embodied a sense of community and family.
Mike said his father opened the store after returning from the war, providing farmers with saddles and other supplies. It grew and the family moved the store to its present site in the 1970s.
“It is one of the oldest general stores in New Zealand and we have looked after the Far North since.”
He said while it was not easy to let the store go, it was time and he had full confidence in the Attwoods.
“I went to school with Kane’s dad and Laura and Kane approached me this year and we have been working to try and get the sale to go through. The takeover will be just before Christmas.” He said even though it would be hard letting go, he was a bit relieved because he would have a lot more free time to travel and spend with family.
“I will spend most of my time up here enjoying the North, fishing and playing golf again. My son and daughter are in Australia and I will be visiting them and I will get to visit friends. I will be able to travel a bit more and enjoy life.”
The Attwoods will be keeping the store name, something Mike is pleased with.
“It’s an iconic name and it is nice that they are keeping it. I know they will run it as a family business as my family did.” Mike will help the new owners transition into taking over the store, something Laura said would be a huge help.
“We are excited and nervous, mostly excited, though. It’s nerve-racking as we are wondering if we will live up to their reputation,” she said.
“Neither of us have done anything like this before, but Kane is super-passionate about hunting and fishing, anything to do with the outdoors. We love that it’s a local family store and we thought it would be a good fit for us.”
Kane Attwood and Mike Rider seal the deal as the Attwoods look to take over the store this week.
The family have been regular customers at the store and Laura said the service was always top notch.
“Kane has been shopping there his entire life and what we love about it is the service you receive. If you go to a big retailer and they don’t have something it’s too bad, but Mike will always go the extra mile and will continue to do that.”
