AFTER 40 years in Newcastle’s CBD, iconic toy store Frontline Hobbies is relocating to a new flagship store in Broadmeadow, blaming the light rail construction work’s “significant and unsustainable effect” on trade for its decision.
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Business owner Colin Scott said the toy store at 255 Hunter Street would remain, however it would more than halve its footprint and focus on making the new, 1200 square metre Lang Road store “the most complete hobby store in the land”.
The opening of the new store is slated for the Easter weekend in March, and Mr Scott said benefits of the move included non-metered parking and strong public transport links to main roads and Broadmeadow train station.
Mr Scott is a strong supporter of the CBD and believes the completed light rail will be of great benefit.
But he said the decision to run the light rail on Hunter Street instead of the old rail corridor meant some businesses were paying a heavy price during construction.
