End of an era for Penray Gardens

End of an era for Penray Gardens

The last fruit and vegetable store on what was the “Golden Mile” of stores south of Ōtaki is closing.

Penray Gardens is closing the retail store on Friday, June 12, with the Bertelsen family saying it’s a decision made “with a heavy heart”. The pick-your-own (PYO) business at the gardens will continue after the annual shutdown for Penrays over the winter.

Penray Gardens is owned and operated by Brent and Jane Bertelsen. Brent is a fourth-generation gardener.

His grandfather, Fredrick Bertelsen, came to New Zealand from Denmark in the early1900s. He lived in Lower Hutt and grew tomatoes, a tradition carried on by the next three generations of Bertelsens, who established gardens in Ōtaki.

Fredrick’s son, Victor (Vic) Bertelsen, moved to Dunstan Street, Otaki, to also grow tomatoes (the Bertelsen Court subdivision is named after the family).

Fredrick’s grandson, Raymond (Ray), and wife Penny Bertelsen moved to SH1, south of Ōtaki, in 1960 and built the shop selling tomatoes, naming it Penray Gardens (after Penny and Ray).

Meantime, the Salut store in the Ōtaki township is also closing.

Noted for its gourmet pies, the store will close by July 20, according to a post by store owners Joe and Carey Player.

The couple say they are opening again at a Wellington location. They “looked at all the options to keep the current store open at the same time as the Wellington location, but it just isn’t viable”.