WHILE stores and staff come and go, some have stuck true to Griffin Plaza and will also celebrate their 20th anniversary on Wednesday.

Those in the centre from day one have seen it flourish, worked through good times and bad, and put in the hard yards to help keep the plaza successful.

They all have a clear idea of why the plaza has been successful - a good reputation and building on a strong anchor tenant as a drawcard.

Liz Purtell is an original, first with Millers and now as manager of Autograph (its successor).

Having years of retail experience, she heard the plaza was opening, secured a position at Millers and has been there ever since.

“It was the first of its kind in Griffith, it’s a shopper friendly plaza,” Liz said.

“I always feel it’s handy and it’s compact. I’ve been here and I’ve been happy. It has been a good place.”

Glen Capello went close to racking up 20 years. An original tenant as the operator of Lenard’s Chicken, his store was only built in the final week before opening and just recently closed.

“(The plaza) was the original one in town, it was something new,” Glen said.

“I think the area was crying out for it. It endeared itself to people from that opening.

“It is in their comfort zone. They’ve known it and grown up with it for 20 years.”

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Baby Chopsticks owner Stephen Lowe has run his Chinese takeaway restaurant from the food court for 20 years and has been happy with business.

David Murphy went from rice farmer to a Donut King, taking on the tasty franchise in 1997 with his wife Julie.

“It was a well-liked brand and it was not anywhere near Griffith,” David said.

“Would I do it again? If I was young enough - yes. I had intended to stay three years and go back to farming.

“I has been great watching all the kids grow up.

“I think the fact it is a smaller country town, people are able to meet where everybody eats and they can socialise together. It’s a meeting point.”

Sheradine Turkington is a long-term, on-and-off tenant as a franchisee of Bakers Delight.

After owning the franchise from 2004 to December 2006, she sold it only to return two years ago after an eight-year gap to raise her children.

“When I did come back, it was like seeing an old friend,” Sheradine said. “It is a good location with Coles opposite.”

She believes the customers make the plaza great.

However, Sheradine said the plaza was ripe for a new chicken shop or butcher. While there is also scope for more eateries, she believes the plaza caters to all people.

“You look at the dress shops, every age group is covered,” she said. “Beauty shops are for all ages, the newsagent is all ages, babies and older people eat our food.”

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