Dimboola Store owners close shop, looking to sell business

The Dimboola Store will continue to operate as usual, with a business-as-usual transition planned for the new owners.

EARLIER: After three years at the helm, Dimboola Store owners John and Alexandra O'Halloran have decided to close the business.

The O'Hallorans will close the business on Wednesday, which will remain on the market for potential future buyers.

Mr O'Halloran said the couple had decided to "wind back" from the business after operating through four difficult lockdowns.

"Really the thrust of it is, we are not in a position ourselves to work on the weekends because of our other commitments, and we have also reached a point where we dont enjoy having to re-invent the business every time there is a COVID outbreak," he said.

"It has gotten to the point where we have decided we want to put the business on the market."

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The Dimboola Store opened in 2018, with the tree-changing couple from Barwon Heads deciding to open the cafe after developing an interest in the town during a road trip 20-years-ago.

Soon after the cafe opened, fellow tree changers Chan and Jamie Uoy started the Dimboola Imaginarium.

Both couples brought their experience and energy to the town, which saw a resurgence of tourism.

The O'Hallorans were originally from Ocean Grove and ran a clothing business in Barwon Heads alongside the Dimboola Store.

Mr O'Halloran also operates a legal practice, either from Ocean Grove or remotely in Dimboola.

He said the Dimboola Store was operating successfully through the pandemic, but the hands-on nature of running the business had started to take its toll.

"Since about September 2018 the business has traded seven days a week, from 8am to 3pm, without missing a day - apart from being closed for Christmas and New Years," he said.

"In running a business for two years, 15 months of the business's life has been under the shadow of COVID. It has operated successfully and still operates successfully.

"I have three grandchildren that have arrived this year; two have been born and one coming in two months."

"We have gotten to a point where we want to scale back and relax rather than running a business for seven days a week day-in day-out."

The O'Halloran's first visited Dimboola on a road trip with their children about 20 years ago.

"This town had a butcher with free sausage sizzle and there was an old pub on the corner," he said.

"I came back in 2010 and that pub had burnt down, there was no butcher and there was empty shops but it's got beautiful natural features."

They later got to know the town better when Mr O'Halloran taught at Dimboola Memorial Secondary College in 2010.

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But it was the country wedding of Mrs O'Halloran's sister that inspired the pair to split their time between their house in Ocean Grove and somewhere inland.

Mr O'Halloran said although he had some great memories with the store, it was time to move on and was looking for someone capable to come in and take the reins.

"he business has become very successful, but with that it also requires a lot of hands-on input. It has reached a point where we would prefer someone else to put their hand up and take it on," he said.

"There is a risk-averse atmosphere in society now because of stop-start trading of businesses. That makes people a lot more cautious.

"It is a viable, functioning business that is profitable. It is not a business that is closing down because it is losing money and going down the drain. It is a business that is up and running and ready for someone to take it on."

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