DISCOUNT retailer Dimmeys is closing its doors just two years after opening in Albury’s The Village shopping centre in Young Street.
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The Melbourne-based chain was placed into administration in January.
An unknown number of the 45 stores in the company are expected to be saved, reportedly under the new name of Cool Breeze. But Albury store manager Geoff Maguire confirmed yesterday his store would not be a part of a Cool Breeze chain and would shut.
Mr Maguire refused to comment about the loss of the store, instead referring The Border Mail to its Braybrook head office in suburban Melbourne.
He would not confirm when the Albury business would close its doors, although a closing-down sale has begun.
Several requests for comment from head office went unanswered.
The 539 square metre Albury site has been listed with Albury’s LJ Colquhoun Dixon Real Estate at an annual lease of $53,900, plus goods and services tax.
Dimmeys was placed under administration not long after the company was fined $3 million for breaching product safety laws.
The Federal Court found the company had contravened consumer law by selling items that were hazardous or did not carry compliant warning labels.
Administrator Richard Cauchi, of SV Parners, had initially intended to run the group’s 45 stores across Australia as he prepared to sell the business.
The chain has since been taken over by the children of the retailer’s owner, Doug Zappelli.
Some of Dimmeys’ 500-plus staff at other stores were told by email last week they had lost their jobs.
Mr Maguire also managed a Dimmeys store at Goulburn, assisted by his wife, Wanita, and son, Keegan.
Dimmeys stocked clothing, household goods, manchester, toys and stationery.
The chain bought The Village from businessman Vyv Weatherall in late 2011.
Dimmeys also has stores at Shepparton, Cobram and Swan Hill.