Hunter owned and operated automotive accessories retailer, Altapac has opened a Maitland store to better serve its growing local customers.

The new store, at 175 High Street is part of a multi-million dollar investment, which has included the renovation and 70 per cent expansion of its Newcastle store and workshop opposite Westfield Kotara.

Managing Director, Steve Evans said Maitland is a huge growth area. He said Altapac has served many Maitland and Upper Hunter customers for years and is looking forward to bringing Altapac’s products and services to new local customers.

“We are coming to them, rather than them having to come to Newcastle,” Steve said.

The new store and Kotara store expansion is a boost for the local economy, creating 12 new jobs. The Maitland store was designed by Hunter firm ELK Architects and Newcastle’s Summit Services did the building work at both sites.

“Our new Maitland store is another milestone in an almost 50-year journey from a car window tinting business to an automotive superstore.”

“Altapac matches the range of big, national retailers, but it has always been the added convenience and quality of our workshop that has made us a one stop automotive shop for local people.”

Altapac has always been a family-owned business. Steve’s father, Paul “Pinky” Evans, established Altapac in Hamilton in 1972 as the first automotive window tinting business on Australia’s East Coast.

Steve said Altapac has always been ahead of the game in service offerings and an innovator. It began to sell a variety of, then, new products such as photocopiers, mobile phones, car alarms, and locking systems.

In the 1990s, Altapac added automotive accessories including towbars, roof racks and car phones – even becoming Newcastle’s home for Optus.

It developed Altacut – a computer cut window tinting software package to improve the efficiency and accuracy of window tinting – which is now used by some of the largest tint houses, car dealers and service groups in the country.

More recent service offerings include all manner of accessories as well as paint protection and security films, child restraints, camping equipment, van fit outs, and vehicle signage. The firm is one of Australia’s largest independent retailers of recognised brands like Rhino-Rack and Yakima.

Steve started working for the business in 1992 and became Managing Director in 2001.

While the store is now open, a grand opening event is planned for 11 December.

IMAGE | Altapac’s new Maitland store.