Country Growers: Popular greengrocer has to leave Westfield Warringah Mall

Country Growers, a thriving family-owned fruit and veg business has to shut its doors at Westfield’s Warringah Mall. See the reasons why here.

A popular and successful award-winning greengrocer is shutting its doors after Westfield at Warringah Mall declined to renew its lease.

The family-owned independent Country Growers will close on June 30, after serving its customers for 18 years, because the mall’s owners want to revamp a section of the sprawling shopping centre at Brookvale.

Country Growers fruit shop owner Sam Hamdan was told his thriving businerss at Warringah Mall would have to close its doors at the end of June. File picture: Braden Fastier.

Country Growers’ owner, Sam Hamdan, confirmed they have been given notice by centre management to vacate the site near the Coles supermarket.

The news that the shop was closing sparked an outpouring of support for the business on social media with one community Facebook group recording close to 300 comments.

“We absolutely adore this fruit market because of the variety of overseas food. I buy a lot of Brazilian food there the fruits are good value and quality,” one customer said.

Another posted: “Their produce is always so fresh and excellent. I’m beyond sad to hear this news.”

Mr Hamdan told the Manly Daily that his other business, the adjoining Red Lea Chickens outlet, a bustling cooked and fried chicken shop, will also close at the end of the month.

About 30 full-time and part time staff work across both businesses.

The shops have to go to make room for new escalators, which will form part of an additional entrance to the recently opened Kmart variety department store on the Mall’s ground floor.

Kmart, which replaced the Target outlet, opened last week.

The Mall is owned by the Scentre Group, which owns and operates 42 Westfield shopping centres in Australia and New Zealand.

“I received a letter from centre management here,” Mr Hamdan said on Monday.

“We have until June 30, then we have to close up.

“I really did not want to go. That’s why I’m so sad about this, but we were not offered any options to relocate the retail store.”

Mr Hamdan, who also owns a Country Growers outlet at Westfield Parramatta and whose family owns farms around Sydney and at Griffith, said he did not want to criticise Westfield management at Brookvale because it had treated his business well during their time at the Mall.

In 2015 the shop, which boasts 3000 product in its fruit and vegetable, as well as deli sections, won a Local Business Award and has been a finalist in the Sydney Markets Awards.

“We were blessed that Westfield gave us an opportunity here 18 years ago, “ he said.

Country Growers at Warringah Mall is set to close its doors on June 30 after 18 years serving its customers. Picture: Manly Daily

“I’ll be looking around for another location for the business on the northern beaches. I live in the area.

“And I’ll be working hard to find jobs for all our fantastic, experienced and honest staff.”

Mr Hamdan said the local Country Growers wholesale business, which supplies produce to restaurants and other businesses on the northern beaches, was not affected by the move.

Warringah Mall management has been contacted for comment.