Health shop turns 21

Gary and Robyn Russell of Go-Vita Health and Nutrition Centre, Woy Woy, have finally "come of age", having served the Peninsula for 21 years.

Gary originally opened for business as the Health Stop in the Regional Arcade on the Boulevarde near the Woy Woy Newsagent, the only remaining original retailer in the arcade.

"At that time, there was no Deepwater Plaza and the Peninsula Plaza had only just opened so most of the retail business took place in the Woy Woy main street shopping centre", Gary recalled.

"The size of the residemtial area was about the same as now, but the population is much larger now as there were no units or villas and a large number of holiday homes sat empty most of the time."

In 1982, the business moved to 73 Blackwall Road, opposite Peninsula Plaza, reflecting the movement of customers to a different part of the CBD.

Health Stop remained there for nine years before moving into Peninsula Plaza in 1991.

The business was severely disrupted on February 8, 1993, when a fire destroyed Peninsula Plaza.

Luckily, the business was insured and due to a severe shortage of vacant shops in Woy Woy, they relocated to Umina.

The business re-established itself in Peninsula Plaza in July 1994 and has remained there since then while the retail outlet in West Street, Umina, was sold in 1995 and continues to trade as a separate health food store.

The currently stocks over 4500 items, a range more than 10 times greater than 20 years ago.

Although now part of the Go-Vita group, the business remains independently owned and employs four staff, Lynne Wilson, Nicola Bradley, Tracey Wheatland and Erika Patricks, all of whom have a strong interest in natural therapies, according to Gary.

Lynne Wilson is a qualified homeopath and Nicola Bradley is training to become a naturopath.

Cec Bucello, March 9