About P Comino & Sons
OUR HISTORY
For 90 years, P Comino and Sons has been serving the people of Mackay and district by supplying quality products with friendly, personalised service. The Comino family were some of the first business pioneers within Mackay city. In 1906, a newly migrated Greek, Peter Comino, opened the Sydney Oyster Saloon in Sydney Street. This restaurant transitioned to become the Britannica Café after a cyclone that hit Mackay in 1918 which called for renovation, restoration, and a rebranding. In the early 1930s the Comino family transitioned away from hospitality opening Comino Drapers (later to be called P Comino and Sons) at 14 Sydney Street. Peter Comino and his wife Vasiliki had 10 children- many of whom worked at the family businesses over the years. Jim managed the store for many years, and Cyril opened Comino’s Camping a few doors up on Sydney Street. In 1979 Cyril took over management of P Comino and Sons and combined some items from the Comino’s Camping store. Cyril retired in 1986 and handed the reigns over to his daughter Vassie, who left her career as a pharmacist to work in the family business. Vassie has been managing the business now for over 36 years.
The Sydney Street store has had very few changes over the last nine decades. The original cash register, which was converted to decimal currency in 1966, still sits on the long wooden counters which have stood in store since 1932. Some of the glass counters and display cabinets originally came from the café. You may think that in 2022 technology would be an integral part of the business but think again! The shop assistants write the invoices by hand and the stock adjustments are done manually. The EFTPOS machine is the only technology in the front of shop and there is only one computer which is in the office. This offers a point of difference to locals and tourists alike – many come to the store to see how the business operates the good old-fashioned way. The service experience in store is second to none – the staff members ensure that customers can find the items they need at the right price.
Many well-known, iconic Australian brands including Akubra, R M Williams, T-Boots, King Gee, Driza-Bone, Thomas Cook and Blundstone can be found in store. With the focus being on quality country and work wear, the store also stocks a range of Levi, Wrangler, Mustang, and Lee jeans.
For 90 years, P Comino and Sons has been serving the people of Mackay and district by supplying quality products with friendly, personalised service. The Comino family were some of the first business pioneers within Mackay city. In 1906, a newly migrated Greek, Peter Comino, opened the Sydney Oyster Saloon in Sydney Street. This restaurant transitioned to become the Britannica Café after a cyclone that hit Mackay in 1918 which called for renovation, restoration, and a rebranding. In the early 1930s the Comino family transitioned away from hospitality opening Comino Drapers (later to be called P Comino and Sons) at 14 Sydney Street. Peter Comino and his wife Vasiliki had 10 children- many of whom worked at the family businesses over the years. Jim managed the store for many years, and Cyril opened Comino’s Camping a few doors up on Sydney Street. In 1979 Cyril took over management of P Comino and Sons and combined some items from the Comino’s Camping store. Cyril retired in 1986 and handed the reigns over to his daughter Vassie, who left her career as a pharmacist to work in the family business. Vassie has been managing the business now for over 36 years.
The Sydney Street store has had very few changes over the last nine decades. The original cash register, which was converted to decimal currency in 1966, still sits on the long wooden counters which have stood in store since 1932. Some of the glass counters and display cabinets originally came from the café. You may think that in 2022 technology would be an integral part of the business but think again! The shop assistants write the invoices by hand and the stock adjustments are done manually. The EFTPOS machine is the only technology in the front of shop and there is only one computer which is in the office. This offers a point of difference to locals and tourists alike – many come to the store to see how the business operates the good old-fashioned way. The service experience in store is second to none – the staff members ensure that customers can find the items they need at the right price.
Many well-known, iconic Australian brands including Akubra, R M Williams, T-Boots, King Gee, Driza-Bone, Thomas Cook and Blundstone can be found in store. With the focus being on quality country and work wear, the store also stocks a range of Levi, Wrangler, Mustang, and Lee jeans.
