Freshwater residents, the long wait for the opening of a new IGA outlet will soon be over! Some activity has been going on at the store located within the commercial and residential centre on Albert Street, after more than two years of delays.
Andrew Karellas, the co-owner of the Supamart IGA retail network, confirmed that they have been to the site in recent days to oversee the preparations.
Workers have been adding shelvings and the check-out counters. Trolleys and other equipment, as well as some stocks, are also being delivered whilst there is no more major construction work expected.
Mr Karellas, however, cannot give an exact opening date just yet, except to inform residents that they are getting close to the goal.
Construction of the 1,200 square metre supermaket was completed in 2019 with some of its facilities installed, such as the lighting and refrigeration. However, IGA couldn’t open amidst a legal battle over payments between the developers and the builders.
The dispute has led to the developer’s liquidation. Mr Karellas said that the legal process has been very slow.
Meanwhile, Freshwater residents have eagerly awaiting IGA’s opening after the outlet at the Freshwater Village Plaza closed in 2018. The store wasn’t managed by Mr Karella’s network.
The Karellas group runs six other IGA shops in Blaxland, Cremorne, Rose Bay, Pyrmont, Pennant Hills and Rozelle.
