Freshwater IGA: Long awaited supermarket to open by end of the year

The wait for the return of a much-delayed suburban supermarket to a busy northern beaches’ neighbourhood is nearly over. Take a sneak peek inside

Owners of a long-delayed and much-anticipated neighbourhood supermarket on the northern beaches have confirmed they are aiming to open its doors “towards the end of the year”.

The final fit-out of the Supamart IGA at Freshwater is underway.

A range of retail equipment and shelving is being installed in the 1200 sqm premises on Albert St, which had lain dormant for more than three years due to legal issues.

Earlier this week the Karellas Group, a family-owned company which runs a network of Supamart IGA supermarkets, put up signs on the shop declaring that it would be “opening soon!”.

On Thursday co-owner of the network, Andrew Karellas, told the Manly Daily that while they were still experiencing delays with builders and supplier due to Covid restrictions, the store was in its “final fit-out stage”.

Shelving pictured on Thursday inside the long awaited IGA Supamart supermarket at Freshwater. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

The opening of the supermarket was radically delayed due to a lengthy and complicated legal stoush between the developer of the shop top “Freshwater” residential and commercial building and its builder and designers.

The Karellas Group, which has six IGA stores around Sydney, signed off on the site back in 2012 and were originally hoping to open an IGA in the new building in 2018.

Inside the long awaited IGA Supamart supermarket at Freshwater. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

It was originally so confident that it would open the doors to its supermarket in 2018 that it signed a three-year sponsorship with the Forest Rugby Club and had the company logo on its jerseys.

Local shoppers were left frustrated after the old IGA in The Freshwater Village Plaza, run by different operators, closed in October 2018 leaving residents with nowhere to get fresh groceries.

The developer went into liquidation in April 2019.

Delays had been caused due to the builder and designer going to the NSW Supreme Court seeking payment for work, done for the developer, from the liquidator.

Signage at the site of the long awaited IGA Supamart supermarket in Albert St, Freshwater. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

In response to a series of emailed questions from the Manly Daily on Thursday about the supermarket opening, Mr Karellas replied: “We are aiming to open the store towards the end of this year.

“We are experiencing some delays with builders and suppliers due to Covid.”

He was asked what customers could expect when the doors finally opened.

“Supamart IGA Freshwater will offer the local community a large selection of products from local suppliers ranging from fresh foods, including a full service delicatessen with fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables and a large health food range along with everyday grocery needs at competitive prices.”

Mr Karellas also encouraged locals to start shopping with the Supamart online now, ahead of the opening.

“The local community can start to shop with us and experience our range from our online store at www.supmartonline.com.au where customers can order by 5pm and receive their groceries the next day, subject to timeslot quota availability.”

The new supermarket will have an underground car park with two lifts up to the store.

Delighted Freshwater local Lisa Reizes, a mother of two adult children who do shift work as health workers, said she was thrilled the supermarket was finally about to open.

Freshwater resident Lisa Reizes outside the IGA Supamart supermarket in Albert St, Freshwater. The mother of two is thrilled that the long delayed supermarket will be opening "soon". Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Ms Reizes said the Supamart would also help revitalise retail in the Freshwater village main street.

“When Covid hit, the town was so dead. It was sad. The supermarket will bring more people back.

“I’m so excited. We won’t have to travel outside the area for our groceries and our fruit an vegetables anymore.

“And if we run out of things like milk and bread, or need things for dinner that night, which we do often when you’ve got adult children doing shift work, we’ll be able to just pop up the road now.”

Another thrilled local and mother of two, Darlene Gill, said of the upcoming opening: “My life is now complete.”