Even strip bar owners are looking to cash out as the recession bites.
The well-known Mermaids Bar in Auckland’s central business district is up for sale, with a $4.5 million price tag.

The buyer gets the building and the business, which differentiates itself from other strip bars by featuring girls swimming in large tanks.

“Mermaid Bar was the first revue bar in the world to feature aquarium style tanks for performance. The highly original concept has been a huge success since its establishment 5 years ago,” the ad says.

The premises have a 24-hour liquor licence and a brothel licence, with a total floor area of around 500sqm.

The current owner is looking to retire, the ad says.

Mermaids is one of nearly 1500 businesses currently for sale on Trade Me.

Some of these are franchise opportunities, but many are established companies.
Businesses for sale include a Manukau dairy and Lotto shop ($290,000), an automotive repair shop in Wellington ($235,000), a charter ferry business on the Tauranga Harbour ($145,000) and the Rocky Mountain Chalet resort in Ohakune ($865,000).

Prospective investors with cash on their hands could also buy a factory turning a $1.5 million profit ($6.5 million), a milk processing plant ($3 million), Blenheim Caravans and Campers ($1.9 million) and the Matauri Bay Holiday Park ($1.75 million).