This supermarket between Leach and Courtenay Streets was built in 1992 for Progressive Enterprises Ltd. It was originally branded "3 Guys", New Zealand's first true discount supermarket chain. The first 3 Guys was opened in South Auckland in 1973 by Welsh grocery entrepreneur, Albert Gubay. The chain was bought by Progressive Enterprises in 1985.
Before construction began nine houses were removed from the site by Stratford's "Central House Movers" and "Highway House Movers" from Whangarei. Another five buildings on the site were demolished.
The 2000 sq. m supermarket cost $2 million to build and another $2 million for fittings and stock.
Later it traded as "Countdown" until its closure in 2013.
Related items:
Another supermarket for city (Daily News 18 May 1992)
Winds delay departure of houses (Daily News 23 July 1992)
Moving on, houses and all (Daily News 27 July 1992)
Changing look of cityscape (Daily News 14 September 1992)
3 Guys Open in New Plymouth (Daily News 7 December 1992)
New market not start of food war (Daily News 7 December 1992)
From the archives - Boom time for supermarket development (Taranaki Daily News 25 May 2013)
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