1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: The Anti Oriental Emporium has had a really difficult time 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: in recent months, and the iconic Coconut Grove business went 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: up in flames in the early hours of October eight, 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: but the family has done an enormous amount of work 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: to ensure that the Much Love store is able to reopen. 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: And joining me on the line right now is Chris 7 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: lay And from Anti Oriental Emporium. Good morning to you, Chris. 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie and listeners. 9 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 3: Mate. How are things going. 10 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're really good. We've had a lot of people 11 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 2: there through the store this morning. There was already a 12 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 2: line up very early when we got in today, which 13 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 2: is fantastic and it just shows the amount of love 14 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 2: and support we've received over the last six weeks. It's 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 2: been fantastic. 16 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: Oh, that is wonderful to hear. So opened this morning. 17 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: What time did those doors finally open, Chris? 18 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 2: So We opened at about eight thirty. Yeah, but we 19 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: had people lining up from age, which is kind of 20 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 2: crazy because, you know, we don't expect for you know, 21 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 2: we knew that the store was sort of important for 22 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 2: a lot of people where they used to get things 23 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: that you don't get from your other major supermarket supplies, 24 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: but obviously everyone's been missing the store. Yeah, nice to 25 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:21,559 Speaker 2: see a lot of people. 26 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 3: Oh that's so nice to hear. 27 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: And I think it's a real testament to you and 28 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: your family of how appreciated that story is in the 29 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,399 Speaker 1: Northern Territory community. Chris, what have people been saying to 30 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: you as they've walked through the doors this morning? 31 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 2: Oh? Look, it's a lot of mixed reactions. It's a 32 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 2: lot of oh, thank goodness, we can get what we 33 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 2: need again. There's also a lot of comments on the 34 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: new store. I mean, obviously the old store was going 35 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 2: on about forty odd years. 36 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: Yep, it was. 37 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: Getting a bit old. I think everyone liked a bit 38 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: of change every now and then. So it's been really 39 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: encouraging from everyone. Now, like I said, we don't have 40 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: the full compliment of products. Ye, trying to source everything 41 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: as we work our way through. But I think the 42 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 2: most important thing for us was to get back and 43 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: open before Christmas. I think a lot of people, especially 44 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 2: in Darwin, we're a very multi cultural society. A lot 45 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: of people celebrate Christmas in different ways and I guess 46 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: different meals, so it's not always through turkey or the chicken. 47 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 2: It might be a Lasa or a noodle suits for 48 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 2: lunch on Christmas Day. So yeah, you know, it's just 49 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: been very encouraging to see everyone flooding back to the store. 50 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 2: It's been really really nice. 51 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, mate, it can't have been easy. 52 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: I mean, you guys have had such a difficult couple 53 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 1: of years. But you know, knowing that that the coconut 54 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,399 Speaker 1: growth business went up in flames not too long ago, 55 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: I mean October eight, it's not long ago at all, 56 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: So no mean feet being able to get a new 57 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: store up and running so quickly. 58 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 2: No, But you know, we've been here a long time. 59 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: We've got a lot of trusted partners and suppliers that 60 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: we work with up here in and all the territory, 61 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 2: and we always try and put our best foot forward. 62 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 2: So I can sort of happily report that about ninety 63 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: percent of the work that was done on site was 64 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 2: done all through local contractors and businesses. And I think, 65 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 2: you know, we're a very tight knit community up him 66 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 2: and when I guess people are doing it tough, everyone 67 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: comes out to help. So I think it's a testament 68 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: to the Daralin community spirit that you know, we were 69 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 2: able to do a lot of these things because without 70 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: the support of refrigeration mechanics, electricians, you know, people like 71 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 2: doing our flaws and things like that, we wouldn't have 72 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 2: been in this position. But like I said, everyone was 73 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: really willing to help. They put our work first, even 74 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 2: before other quoted work that they had done previously. So 75 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 2: it was very heartening like that. We feel very lucky 76 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: to have all of these very good partners of ours 77 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 2: to come together and help us as well, such being 78 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 2: break well. 79 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 3: And real testament to your family as well. 80 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: I would suggest, you know, well respected and well liked 81 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: within the community to have those local business, those local 82 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: tradesmen be able to jump on board and help you 83 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 1: guys as quickly as they have. But Chris, you know, 84 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: I guess it goes to show you that what Territorians 85 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: do best, and that is stick together and help out 86 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: their mates when when the chips are down. 87 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 2: It is and we've always said that, you know, this 88 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: is our second fire in two years, as obviously has 89 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,239 Speaker 2: been widely reported, and you know I said both times 90 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 2: now the support has been just fantastic. Yeah, you know, 91 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: we even have to go out to to you know, 92 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: even council Health Department, you know, the government everyone has 93 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 2: really put their best foot forward in helping us get 94 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 2: back to where we need to be. And it's been fantastic. 95 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 2: Even the landlords. You know, no request was too hard 96 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 2: for them. We put things, I mean, site hadn't been 97 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 2: used in a while. We'd ask them to do a 98 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 2: lot of sort of remedial work and they did that 99 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 2: really quickly. And again it all just adds up and 100 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 2: helps us to get back to me. So it was 101 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 2: really really nice. 102 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: And Chris, any idea where the investigation is at from 103 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: the fire. 104 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 2: Look at this stage, police are still working on that 105 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: they have been since day one. I mean, I don't 106 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 2: want to embarrass the leading officer who's doing the investigation, 107 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: but he's been fantastic. He's kept us in the loop 108 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 2: the entire time. You know, I know that they're following 109 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 2: up many leads at the moment, a lot of which 110 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 2: I can't discuss as a Radio's fine. Again, they're looking 111 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 2: at things from their perspective and I have every place 112 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 2: in there that they you know, they will come up 113 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 2: with with an outcome for us that we're so let's 114 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:56,920 Speaker 2: let them do their work and still where that takes. 115 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree, Now Chris is the site that you 116 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 1: right now is are you going to stay there or what? 117 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 1: Or are you still sort of a plan still up 118 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: in the air. Is it going to be your permanent site. 119 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: Well, we've actually started demolition already with some build on 120 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: our old site, so they're actually working as we speak. 121 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: I'm looking out the window and there's a big picking 122 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: up all the metal scraps putting it in the bin. 123 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: So the site should be cleared in another two to 124 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 2: three weeks and then we I guess start planning what 125 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 2: comes next. There's also the Fruit and Edge business next 126 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,559 Speaker 2: door which hasn't been trading for six weeks as well, 127 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 2: so we're very keen to get them back into business 128 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 2: as soon as we can. We're just waiting on some 129 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: final details now for Maturer to do that. But you know, 130 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 2: hopefully the Fruit and Vege can get back up and 131 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 2: running as soon as possible, and then we'll rebuild on 132 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 2: this site a new purpose built I guess retail store 133 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 2: for the emporum. So we hope maybe you know, twelve 134 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 2: to eighteen months time, we should be back yeah in 135 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 2: coconut clothing back road. So let's see how that sort 136 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 2: of panned out and that's all all full steam ahead 137 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 2: as well, So we're working really hard on that to 138 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 2: get back to where we need to be. 139 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: Well, good on you guys, Good on your whole family. 140 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: I know that you're a really close knit family who 141 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: works so well together. 142 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 3: And it's been a tough time. 143 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: And you've you know, you've bought the NT Oriental Imporium 144 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: back to Territorians and it sounds as they've been screaming 145 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: out for it lined up since eight o'clock this morning. 146 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 2: Yes, it's like I said, the support has been overwhelming 147 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: and I want to sort of just be thank you 148 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: to the Dull community as well. Again, everyone's been so 149 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 2: supportive and so nice, and like I said, we were 150 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,119 Speaker 2: not going anywhere. This is our home and I guess 151 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 2: this is what Territorians do. We're here for the long 152 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 2: haul and we hope so, like I said, get his 153 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 2: new biggest store up and running in tilk to eighteen 154 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: months and hope to see everyone back at the temporary 155 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: store in the meantime. And you know, like I said, 156 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 2: it's it's been quite a journey twenty twenty. But I 157 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 2: think compared to a lot of other people, you know, 158 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 2: it's been a tough one. We'll get through. And again, 159 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: thank you everyone for all the support. 160 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: Well, thanks so much for your time this morning, Chris, 161 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. 162 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 3: I hope you have a cracking day, mate. It sounds 163 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 3: like it's going to be a busy one. 164 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. 165 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 3: Heatie, thank thank you, thanks mate. 166 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: That is well, that was one of the directors there, 167 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: Anti Oriental Emporium director Chris Laigh. And sounds like they're 168 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: going to have a very busy day. Everybody's been waiting 169 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: to get back in there, to get there to get 170 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: their different groceries.