Speculation is mounting about what stores will soon operate from the vacant Masters building at Rutherford.
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Maitland City Council has recently approved a change of use for the New England Highway/Anambah Road property which became vacant after Woolworths announced late last year that it would close the hardware chain.
Woolworths announced it was exiting hardware early last year, after it racked up losses of more than $600 million in the four years prior.
Late last year when it was announced the closure of Masters stores was imminent, bulk supermarket chain Costco was said to be the newest contender with its eye on the company’s abandoned outlets.
Other defunct Masters sites in Heatherbrae and Wagga have since been turned into homemaker centres.
This week Maitland City Council confirmed the change of use of the Rutherford store to bulky goods, creating six empty tenancies.
Initial reports to Fairfax Media said the building would be divvied into two separate entities with Spotlight and Chemist Warehouse rumoured to be moving in.
Attempts to contact a spokesperson for Chemist Warehouse failed and Spotlight did not return Fairfax Media's calls.
There has also been speculation this week that either Amart Sports or Super Amart furniture would be taking up residence in the building.
A spokesperson for Super Amart denied the rumours, however a spokesperson for Amart Sports said they could neither confirm or deny rumours they would open in the Rutherford complex.
Amart Sports now has 160 stores nationally. It announced earlier this week a move to merge with fellow sports giant Rebel.
"We have a long term plan to increase our stores to about 200 over the next five years," the spokesperson for Amart Sports said.
“This week's announcement came about after a decision to concentrate on one single sport brand from October 31 and that will be Rebel."
Fairfax Media reported in 2011 how Woolworths had plans to open as many as 150 Masters stores across the country over the following years.
The hardware operation was a joint venture between Woolworths and US hardware company Lowe's.
Master’s Rutherford store opened with great fanfare in May 2012 and closed its doors for trade late last year.