AFTER more than 40 years, Pat Croke Furniture Store will cease trading as rent increases have led to a decision not to renew the property lease after June 30.
The first Pat Croke Furniture Store opened its doors at 78-80 Sydney Street for Kilmore customers in 1986. However, the business also had successful outlets in Wallan, Seymour, Bendigo and Heathcote.
A former Kilmore resident, Pat Croke also raised five sons and each attended Assumption College. Her community spirit defined long-lasting business relationships and friendships with not only schools, but kindergartens, Kilmore District Hospital and many clubs and associations.
Ms Croke moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2009, but her Kilmore store still thrived as she continued to invest her time and energy into the store by attending trade shows, and with her keen eye, she selected items for display and sale. Sadly, but peacefully, Ms Croke died surrounded by family members after a brief illness in March 2025.
Pat Croke Furniture Store Manager Adam Thorpe continues to deliver the same service and community cohesion his former mentor displayed despite being “shocked to the core” by the decision to close. Already Goulburn Options has collected free fabric sample swatches to use for its arts programs.
“We tried desperately to reduce the [rent] expenditure by halving the size of the store, but it was not accepted by our landlords,” Mr Thorpe said.
Salesperson Rosie Bennetts said: “We had a couple in this morning choosing colours for a new lounge. We don’t want people to think we are broke. Adam has run a well-oiled business since Pat passed, and all our suppliers are more than happy to continue to supply us with all the favourite brands and quality items as ever.”
“We will trade until the end of May [normal opening hours] and then we’ll be using every waking hour to undress the store,” Mr Thorpe said.
The store employs five people, and each are shocked by the grim reality that their place of employment is closing its doors on Sunday, May 31. Local shoppers can help by choosing to shop for all giftware which is discounted by 40 per cent for the remainder of the tenancy.
