A New service centre has been set up at Heriot.
Harliwich contracting business owner Lindsay Harliwich had a new workshop built as the contracting business had ‘‘outgrown'' its old site.
The new site now houses not only Mr Harliwich's original business and service centre, but also a new ‘‘Harli's'' vet and food shop.
His wife and daughter manage the cafe-style shop.
‘‘You couldn't get milk or bread or a thing in Heriot,'' Mr Harliwich said.
Before the opening of the shop two weeks ago, residents had to travel to Tapanui if they ever ran out of milk or bread.
Now, they were ‘‘very lucky'' to have the store on their doorstep in case they ran out.
He said Heriot was a ‘‘good wee town'' with a few young people in the area.
This was why there was a need for the cafe-style store which also sold hot food and coffee. The vet was leasing out a portion of the building alongside Harliwich contracting and Heriot Service Centre.
The nearest vet was either in Gore or Tapanui, which still could be too far for some Heriot residents.
Mr Harliwich said the community had responded positively.
‘‘They've been beaut.''
Mr Harliwich believed it was the first building to have been built in the town since the Community Centre.
‘‘It's nice to have something new.''
He said there was no clear ‘‘manager'' and the whole place worked together.
