Customers saying thanks and dropping in gifts have made for emotional last days of an iconic name of the Dubbo business landscape, reports the man at the helm.
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After more than 40 years in operation in the city, Brennan's Mitre 10 has been sold to the Petrie Group of Mudgee.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay from the original March 30 timeframe, but the new owners will take the reins from Wednesday.
As Brennan's managing director Michael Brennan prepared to hand over, he reflected on his family's journey.
It all started with his grandfather opening a hardware store at Cobar more than 80 years ago, and then his father Frank Brennan opened Mitre 10 at Dubbo in 1976.
"The last week... so many customers came up and thanked us for our time there, and a few people who have sent in emails, others that dropped off some gifts," Mr Brennan said.
"I've shed a few tears over the past few days about this, to say that it's 80 years of heritage..."
But the businessman who's about to realise his dream of becoming a full-time farmer said it was the "right time for Brennans to pass it on to Petries".
The two families have known each other for decades, and Mr Brennan said they both had the ideology of "service and being local and regional and a major part of the group we're in".
"So I feel very proud to hand it over to them, I really do," Mr Brennan said.
The Petrie Group started with the Mitre 10 store at Mudgee in 1986, and the purchase of the Dubbo store, long in its sights, takes the stable to nine stores.
Petrie Group managing director Phillip Petrie said the family business, headed up by himself and wife Annette and Michael and Annette Fergus, was looking forward to being part of Dubbo.
"The challenge is to follow in the footsteps and maintain the standards that the Brennan family have kept here for a long time, and they're held in high regard," he said.
"We want to make sure we continue to be held in the same regard, and to run the business to the standards, and look for ways that we can even improve the offer over time," he said.
"But yes, I suppose continuation and consistency is the most important thing for us."
Mr Fergus said Brennan's had been a "flagship" of the brand for many years, and they felt privileged to have the opportunity to purchase the business.
The store has closed for Monday and Tuesday for a final stocktake, before it reopens the doors as Petrie's Mitre 10 on Wednesday.
Brad Petrie, son of Phil and Annette, will be the new store manager.