‘Thank you for shopping with us’ Coles announces Port Adelaide exit to make way for giant Woolworths

A major supermarket has announced it will close down in the western suburbs next month.

Australia’s largest Woolworths is a step closer to moving into Port Adelaide after its rival announced it will exit the site next month.

Coles has erected a sign outside of its Port Adelaide Plaza store telling customers “we’re saying goodbye on Sunday, February 9, at 5pm”.

“Thank you for shopping with us over the past 38 years,” it stated, adding the closest stores would now be in St Clair and West Lakes.

Woolworths Group and investor Shaun Bonett’s Precision Group last year announced a deal to bring Woolworths and discount department store Big W to Port Adelaide Plaza, replacing the Coles and Kmart.

The impending closure of the Coles supermarket at the plaza will make way for Woolworths to move into the space in the coming months.

Images of Port Adelaide Plaza Shopping Centre. Supplied by Precision Group

A Woolworths spokesperson said they were looking forward to opening the new store later this year but would not provide a date.

Coles in Port Adelaide will be replaced by Woolworths this year.

“Joining our existing BIGW store, our new Woolworths store will be a full-line supermarket. Some of its features will include a six-car Direct to Boot, full production bakery and full service deli,” the spokesperson said.

“We’re excited to be able to offer Port Adelaide locals a more convenient shopping location.”

Earlier, Mr Bonett said the store was expected to open in early 2025.

He said the Coles site had the capacity to be developed into Australia’s largest Woolworths store.

Big W moved into the space previously occupied by Kmart last year, officially opening its doors in November.

Port Adelaide MP Susan Close earlier said the new store would create local jobs and attract more people to the area.

“The continued growth of the Plaza shopping precinct means that people will shop here in the Port, without having to travel out of the area, helping our local economy, and in line with the government’s various measures that have seen Port Adelaide thriving again,” she said.

The new Big W store employs 52 staff – 41 of those being new team members.

Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Claire Boan earlier said the new store showed there was “great confidence in the Port’s future as a thriving commercial precinct”.

It comes following a $75m redevelopment of the shopping centre.

Coles has been contacted for comment.