Shopping centre unveils plans to build the region’s first Asian supermarket

A shopping centre north of Brisbane will undergo a major refit to make way for a brand new Asian supermarket – it will be the first one for the region.

A Redcliffe shopping centre will transform three retail spaces into an Asian supermarket, which will be a first for the region.

Peninsula Asian Supermarket will be run by David Baiya, who has operated a restaurant at Bluewater Square Shopping Centre for 10 years.

He currently runs Jao Khun, a Thai restaurant.

His family have seven restaurants between Scarborough and Brighton.

Mr Baiya said he had learned from his customers that there was a clear need for an Asian supermarket on the Peninsula.

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David Baiya will open the region's first Asian Supermarket at Bluewater Square Shopping Centre. Photo: Erin Smith

“Many of my customers say they have to go to the city or Sunnybank to get Asian goods,” Mr Baiya said.

The supermarket will stock a mix of fresh produce, frozen foods including dumplings and barbecue pork buns and pre-packaged goods.

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Mr Baiya said he would also stock Asian kitchen essentials so people could cook traditional foods at home.

A large portion of the business will be supplying wholesale goods to other restaurants. Customers will also be able to order their goods online and have them delivered.

The supermarket will be alongside a sushi shop, an existing tenant, and Mr Baiya’s Thai restaurant.

Jascon Cravino, the Leasing and Special Projects manager for Elanor Investors Group, who own Bluewater Square, said this supermarket would fill a gap and a provide a service not offered elsewhere in Redcliffe.

The retail spaces being transformed into the supermarket were previously occupied by restaurants.

The Peninsiula Asian Supermarket will stock a range of fresh Asian produce.

Mr Cravino said some of the tenancies had been vacant for quite a while one other tenant was relocating.

“It was all food and somebody is going to lose,” he said.

“We have 37 cafes within 400m walk in either direction, to reduce the food offering was a very strong mandate from the owners,” he said.

Mr Cravino said work had already started on the new store room for the supermarket and that demolition works would start mid-July.

The aim is to have the supermarket open by September or October this year.

It is not the only major project under way at Bluewater Square Shopping Centre.

Last month the centre announced it was transforming a former restaurant into a putt putt centre.

This development is still waiting on approval from Moreton Bay Regional Council.