HomeCo Belrose: Officeworks pushes the envelope in its new northern beaches store
One of Australia’s most popular retail chains is set to open a unique outlet on the northern beaches, providing 40 new local jobs.
Manly
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One of Australia’s most popular retail chains is set to open a unique outlet on the northern beaches.
Officeworks, which has 170 outlets across the country, is for the first time setting up a store in a homemaker shopping centre — HomeCo at Belrose.
The chain, offering stationery, technology, art and office supplies, normally has standalone locations for its shops.
But its head of property, Kylie Brockett, said the new outlet, opening on October 23, was “situated atop a shopping centre, with direct access and trading into the carpark, offering a distinctive and highly accessible shopping experience”.
“While we typically focus on standalone locations for Officeworks stores, the Belrose site presented a unique opportunity within our network that challenged conventional thinking,” Ms Brockett said.
“Belrose has long been identified as an opportunity within our network, offering the perfect location to establish an Officeworks store in this region.”
It has also created 40 new jobs.
And its manager, Belrose local Andrew Mattes, said the store would feature a “bring it back” station so locals could recycle items, including old electronics and office supplies like toner cartridges, pens and markers.
The Belrose store was also providing $2000 in gift cards and donations to two local schools.
This new shop is set to open as Officeworks makes plans to close its Dee Why outlet in the distinctive, heritage-listed, 75-year-old former factory building at 800 Pittwater Rd.
It’s one of the leaseholders in the old Bonds underwear factory that was bought by the nearby St Luke’s Grammar School in 2013. Fitness First also has an outlet in the building.
The school has planning permission to redevelop the site into its new senior campus to accommodate a total of 600 students in years 10 to 12.
It will have a 300-seat assembly theatre, a 220-seat performing arts theatre, a wellness precinct that includes a 25m indoor swimming pool, a library and student “learning spaces”.
And it will have its own underground carpark.
The building will be linked to the main campus in Headland Rd.
Originally, the school was hoping to begin the redevelopment at 800 Pittwater Rd in 2024 with the facilities “partially utilised by 2026” and the full delivery of the senior school campus in 2030.
Ms Brockett said the Officeworks lease at Dee Why was set to expire at the end of April 2029.
“We are actively exploring alternative sites for relocation,” she said.
To celebrate the Belrose opening, Officeworks is inviting residents to a “community fun day” on Saturday, October, 26. From 11am to 1pm, visitors can take part in free arts and crafts workshops. There will be face painting, giveaways and free coffee at shop T211, HomeCo Belrose, 4/6 Niangala Close.
The shop will open from 7am to 9pm on weekdays, 8am to 6pm on Saturdays and 9am until 6pm on Sundays.
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