CONCERNS are growing that the closure of the Montville medical centre and the only local pharmacy will see other small businesses suffer.
As first reported by GC&M News last week, Montville Pharmacy will merge with Mapleton Pharmacy to become the Lindner Family Pharmacy, at 9 Obi Obi Rd, Mapleton from July 31.
Cookies & Pickles Wellness Centre recently closed and while the owner said there were a range of reasons, the loss of the medical centre played a part in their decision.
Montville IGA owner Ann Wells expressed her concern with the closures but wanted to reassure people that the grocery retailer was continuing to trade strongly.
“I would like to let everybody know that IGA, your local grocer is up and strong,” she said.
Ann said she was concerned that more businesses would close though and urged locals to shop locally. “I’m sure there will be a fallout because we all rely on our locals not just tourists on the weekends,” she said.
“Montville’s population is 1000 people and we only see a few of them, because a lot of people who live in the area don’t shop here. “We need to shop local, which will keep the Montville businesses open.”