Best of the web: On Castlepoint Store's closure

Co-owner Devon Oakly at the Castlepoint Store back in 2008. Photo / File

The Castlepoint Store is to close its doors, which came as sad news to many online readers.

Devon and Anne Oakly, who want to retire, bought the store 13 years ago and have been trying to sell it for more then five years without success.

Kardina Collins said: " Bummer.So sad, so many hot chips and pies after a surf."

Judy Lawrence said: "End of an era ... many good memories ... nowhere to send the kids for lollies to get five mins peace!"

Wendy Ayling said: "A trip to Castlepoint will not be the same without that ice cream on the way home! Oh that is very sad. Why don't the locals all get together and buy it?"

Jane Anderson said: "It's not just as easy as saying why don't the locals buy it! There are not that many locals and it is a huge lifestyle change. We will all miss having the store there. But most of us support their decision as it's not an easy one to make."

Some people said it was not surprising.

Rowen Thornton said: "If they had realistic prices and were not sour it would be way better."

Tashy Arrna said: "I live out Ngawi our lil Pirinoa store runs so well cos prices aren't ridiculous and she keeps everything plain n simple everyone loves it! Alcohol is maybe $3-4 more but it's all good!"

Emma Gardiner said if the store had "just been kept simple" instead of all the adding on which has increased the value of the buildings then maybe it would have genuine interest.

"The business has never been the same and it was run so much better by the previous owners. I enjoyed working every school holidays from 1997-2001. I really hope that if it does close it won't be for long as I really want my boys to experience biking down to the shop for an ice-cream, lollies or fish and chips just like I did as a kid. A few beach house owners are keen to find a solution. It's a real loss to the Castlepoint Community. Maybe the camping ground could sell ice-creams, milk, bread, news paper etc in the mean time."

David and Michele Linkhorn said: "Could be a goldmine with the right people running it."