One tenant with a long-term lease is uncertain about the future of her two-year-old business, Annie's Victorian Tearooms and Store.
Club president Peter Garvan, when approached by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, confirmed it had a ''confidential conditional agreement'' for the sale of the building. Because it was confidential, he would not give details.
''It may not even happen,'' he said.
Asked about existing tenants, Mr Garvan said any changes to tenancy agreements would have to be a mutual agreement between the landlord and tenant.
Annie Baxter, owner of the tearooms, was disappointed her business faced an uncertain future.
Cucina 1871 has applied to the Waitaki District Licensing Agency for a liquor on-licence from 9am to 1am the following day, seven days a week, for a tavern at 1 Tees St.
The equal shareholders and directors in Cucina 1871 are two Oamaru couples, Lynette Ainslee and Keith Broderick Stevens and Andrew Peter and Mary-claire Anderson.
Attempts to get comment from the shareholders was not successful yesterday.
The committee of St Luke's Church on the opposite corner is not happy with plans for the building by its prospective owners.
Committee chairman and vicar the Rev Tim Hurd said the parish had lodged an objection to the licence on a number of grounds, even though those were limited. Objections close today.
He was not aware until Saturday what was happening and was worried about the effect on the church, the historic 1880s building, which he described as ''the gateway to Oamaru's historic precinct'', and the precinct itself.
The area was already well covered with licensed premises at The Last Post and Criterion and he questioned the need for a tavern open 9am to 1am, seven days a week.
The church may have to lock its gates at night because of the possible effect on the grounds and its buildings, such as litter and damage.
''There is also the issue of safety for parishioners and noise,'' he said.
The building was occupied by AMP from the mid-1880s until 1958, when it was sold to rural company Stringer's. In 1975, it was bought by the North Otago Club.
It is one of Oamaru's prominent buildings, sited across the southern end of Thames St.
