Bayview News and Books owner Max Etherington has been a familiar face in Claremont for the past 31 years.
Camera IconBayview News and Books owner Max Etherington has been a familiar face in Claremont for the past 31 years. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Farewell to familiar face

Denise S. Cahill, Western Suburbs WeeklyWestern Suburbs Weekly

The 62-year-old bought the Claremont Newsagency on Bay View Terrace with his brother in 1982 and purchased Bayview News and Books when the Bayview Centre opened 20 years ago.

‘I sold Bay View Terrace about 10 years ago but for some years had two stores,’ Mr Etherington said.

‘It was a family business that I owned with my brother but for the past 10 years, I’ve run it by myself.’

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Mr Etherington, who has two adult children with wife Sharron, has sold two winning first division lotto tickets ” $1.4 million about 10 years ago and $1.9 million about 20 years ago.

‘It hasn’t been boring because we’ve been through lots of changes,’ he said.

‘The Bayview Centre was fully leased in the beginning but the building took over 12 months longer than expected and the market changed.’

Bunnings will occupy the entire centre when the Metro West Joint Development Assessment Panel approves its application.

Tonight, the Town of Claremont will determine Bunnings’ latest application regarding markings, signs, tenancies in the north west corner and parking.

While councillors initially wanted the corner set aside for small shops and restaurants, Town officers have recommended Bunnings be allowed to install its tool and paint shops to activate the frontages of the development.

FJM owns the Bayview Centre. Managing director Tim Mack said existing tenancies had varying lease end dates so the company would ‘sit down’ with the business owners individually to determine timing for the transition to Bunnings.

‘It’s been a long process’