The owner said the thieves then tried to remove the store's safe.
"But they would have found nothing, we don't keep money in the store overnight," he said.
"They did not even steal any alcohol, so it could have been worse."
He said staff had to stay at the site overnight because the shop could not be secured.
The owner said it was the third major robbery at the site in five years.
"Five years ago we were robbed by someone with a knife and they took the till and a few spirit bottles. Three weeks after that some guys came in with a gun and took more alcohol."
But, he said there had been countless "grab and runs" since he took over the store.
"They just come here and just grab things and run. I'm sick of it happening to us.
"The police in Rotorua do a great job, they are excellent, but I think the robbers get away with it for almost nothing. The courts don't punish them."
He said his store had eight security cameras in the shop covering all angles inside and down the street. CCTV footage has been passed on to police.
Rotorua police Detective Sergeant Tony Colby said no arrests had been made.
"But, we have located the vehicle, which turned out to be stolen, and has been returned to the owner."
He said police carried out a scene examination and the investigation was ongoing.
"It's early days and a work in progress."
He asked anyone with any information about the robbery to call Rotorua police on (07) 349 9400.