Business
28 October, 2025
Rising from the ashes
THE Wholesale Paint Shop destroyed by fire late last month has reopened its doors next door, with owners hailing the support of the local community as “overwhelming.”
Store manager John Gregory Riordan said the shop reopened on Monday 20 October, after a frantic clean-up and recovery effort.
“When we arrived on Monday morning (29 September) it appeared quite damaging, but we got the staff together, met with the insurance company and quickly started servicing our customers,” he said.
The fire, which police have confirmed as suspicious, caused significant damage to stock and equipment.
Fortunately, no staff or customers were injured.
Mr Riordan said the team moved inventory to another shed in Parramatta Park and worked tirelessly to restore the current shop to near-full functionality.
“Three weeks to turn it all around and now it looks like a fully functioning shop,” he said, noting some specialised equipment, like colour matching and tinting machines was still being replaced.
The owners have put additional safety measures in place, including 24-hour on-site security to prevent future incidents.
“There have been attempts by people to get into the old building, so this was necessary,” Mr Riordan said.
Community support played a crucial role in the recovery.
Local businesses and customers donated equipment, refreshments and manpower, helping the shop get back on its feet.
A standout moment for the community was the safe return of ‘Chester’, the shop’s fibreglass white horse mascot, which has been part of the business for 30 years.
“People were worried Chester had been lost in the fire. Seeing him out on Tuesday morning went viral on social media,” Mr Riordan said. The shop has also taken the opportunity to upgrade its premises.
“This will be our home for at least 12 months,” Mr Riordan said. “It’s fully functional, airconditioned soon, with more room for stock and a better shopping experience for customers.”
The Wholesale Paint Shop is now operating regular hours, from 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. The team is fully staffed, with delivery services back on the road.
Mr Riordan said the reopening marked a new chapter for the business and demonstrates the resilience of both the owners and the local Cairns community.
