A Rarotonga retailer is pressing forward with a $1 million plus development in spite of delays and spiralling costs.

Raromart and the T-Shirt Factory are set to expand operations with the construction of a prefabricated three-storied facility on a 360 square metre site next to Raromart’s existing headquarters in Avarua.

The groundworks have been underway for eight months.

The T-Shirt Factory, neighbouring the Empire Theatre several hundred metres east along the Main Rd, will soon close as its expanded retail operation will occupy the ground floor of the new facility.

Raromart/T-Shirt Factory director Don Carlaw, who in May 2023, said he expected to have the development completed by September, told Cook Islands News yesterday, the project had seen “quite a bit of delays for a variety of reasons”.

That included shipping movements and red tape issues.

He estimated there had been a 15 per cent increase in the estimated budget due to inflation and supply issues.

Carlaw said the building is now expected to be completed in May.

While the existing T-Shirt Factory retail outlet is a landmark building on Rarotonga which has been operating as a clothing store since the late 1990s, it has multiple issues including leaks, while the lease is due to expire.

The derelict building in front of the Raromart facility was demolished in May 2023. PHOTO: AL WILLIAMS/23050210

The new facility will have more than 1000 square metres of floor space spread across three floors, and complement the existing Raromart store.

Carlaw said he is on the lookout for tenants for the first and second floors, which will be serviced by an elevator.

The former derelict building on the road frontage site was demolished in May 2023. The new kitset building arrived from China last year.

Carlaw said the new facility would feature quality fixtures and he would work with potential tenants to accommodate their needs.

The location was fast becoming the centre of town, closer to the Punanga Nui Market which is also scheduled for expansion.