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\nPeter Urlich wants the Gypsy Tea Room to stay where it is.
\nPhoto: Quin Tauetau\n<\/p>\n
Plans to redevelop a “beloved institution” in Auckland’s Grey Lynn into real estate offices appear to be going ahead despite public opposition led by a NZ Hall of Fame musician.<\/p>\n
The Gypsy Tea Room – open for more than 20 years on Richmond Road – is set to close at the end of August so landlords Barfoot & Thompson can redevelop the site, prompting public outcry from patrons of the watering hole.<\/p>\n
A community campaign and petition have been set up by residents who frequented the bar, in the hopes of getting Barfoot & Thompson to instead renew the business’ lease. But its co-owner, Brett Simeti, said there had been no movement in the agency’s decision.<\/p>\n
“This bar has been serving its local community and countless visitors for 22 years and is a beloved and famous institution in the neighbourhood,” Th’ Dudes frontman Peter Urlich wrote on social media.<\/p>\n
“We are trying to show [Barfoot & Thompson] that it would be a poor decision to shut down such an iconic and much loved establishment that has so many memories to our community when there could be another solution.”<\/p>\n
“We want it to stay where it is.”<\/p>\n
Do you know more? Email melanie.earley@rnz.co.nz<\/p>\n
What is happening with the Gypsy Tea Room?<\/p>\n
Simeti said he had been given a notice of termination by the agency and had until the end of August to leave, but has not had any contact with the agency since.<\/p>\n
“My understanding, at the time, was they wanted to move their Grey Lynn office here and do some earthquake strengthening to the building.”<\/p>\n
Led by Grey Lynn local Richard Upton and music hall-of-famer Urlich, a campaign calling to “Save the Gypsy Tea Room” has been set up.<\/p>\n
“The community is confused and upset that something that makes our neighbourhood so great is being forced to move,” Urlich wrote on social media.<\/p>\n
Simeti said he had a meeting with Barfoot & Thompson last year and initially believed the bar could be incorporated into these plans – “but the end result was they decided we wouldn’t be part of it”.<\/p>\n
In a statement, Barfoot & Thompson said an alternative location for the bar was presented to the tea room, but it was declined.<\/p>\n
“While there are differing perspectives on those discussions, we remain comfortable that we have acted in good faith and communicated our intentions clearly.”<\/p>\n
Simeti did have a differing opinion on this, saying Barfoot & Thompson asked him if he would be interested in the adjoining space and at that point he declined as he didn’t realise the current space would not be available.<\/p>\n
“If I knew it wasn’t, I would have reluctantly accepted.”<\/p>\n
Simeti became an owner of the Tea Room in 2004 – two years after its opening – having previously been a patron.<\/p>\n
Over that time, Simeti said the business had become embedded in the local community, with many customers telling him they’d had first dates, celebrations and even wedding photos taken at the bar.<\/p>\n
At a community meeting on Wednesday evening, supporters of the Gypsy Tea Room vowed to “protest with their pockets” against the real estate agency.<\/p>\n
The group said it wanted Barfoot & Thompson to extend the bar’s lease.<\/p>\n
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\nMusician Peter Urlich was involved with the community campaign. (File photo)
\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n
“When the news broke, there was an outpouring of people expressing their emotion to me. They started saying: What can we do?”<\/p>\n
Simeti said he was “honoured” by their efforts.<\/p>\n
At Wednesday’s meeting, the group suggested supporters “vote with your feet when choosing an agent”.<\/p>\n
What happens next?<\/p>\n
At this stage, Gypsy Tea Room would close by the end of August, Simeti said – unless Barfoot & Thompson changed its plan.<\/p>\n
“In a perfect world, there might be a rethink,” Simeti said.<\/p>\n
He said he’d be willing to move to an alternative space if it came to that, but would rather stay in the current one.<\/p>\n
His message forthe agency was to “listen and read the room”.<\/p>\n
“There is actually a win out of this situation for everybody. We can both coexist.”<\/p>\n
Barfoot & Thompson said in a statement it understood the issue was important to many people and it respected the views that had been shared.<\/p>\n
“We have been open about our plans for the building and have communicated with the tenant about the future of the site as our plans have progressed.<\/p>\n
“We spent a considerable amount of time exploring a range of different options as part of our plans for redevelopment. While we appreciate that some people will be disappointed by our decision, our position remains unchanged.”<\/p>\n