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IGA Dee Why Beach: Jimmy, Monique Aschner to open IGA in former Austrian beer bar

Rumours that an IGA supermarket will replace an Austrian beer bar opposite Dee Why beach have been confirmed.

The closed down Austrian Beer Bar restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why that is set to be replaced by an IGA supermarket. Picture: Jim O'Rourke
The closed down Austrian Beer Bar restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why that is set to be replaced by an IGA supermarket. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

A new IGA outlet is set to take over a prime beachfront location on the northern beaches.

Permission has been granted to allow a former beer bar to be transformed into a supermarket at Dee Why.

The Australian Beer Bar Restaurant on The Strand, the cafe strip opposite the beach, closed its door in April this year after a difficult trading period.

Now Jimmy Aschner, who used to own Asch’s IGA Xpress on Pittwater Rd, Collaroy for five years, and his wife Monique, has confirmed they will open the new supermarket at 13 The Strand.

Owner of the yet to open IGA Dee Why, Jimmy Aschner, outside the former Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why. Picture: Supplied
Owner of the yet to open IGA Dee Why, Jimmy Aschner, outside the former Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why. Picture: Supplied

“I’m very excited to present our latest project at Dee Why Beach,” Mr Aschner wrote on his LinkedIn profile.

“It took a while to get over the line but we got there in the end.

Jimmy and Monique Aschner at the IGA Wahroonga Fresh. Picture: Facebook
Jimmy and Monique Aschner at the IGA Wahroonga Fresh. Picture: Facebook

“Dee Why Beach will have a high quality, fresh food, local grocer they can call their own.”

Mr Aschner, along with the owners of the property, a local northern beaches family, applied to Northern Beaches Council to change the use of the site.

Internal demolition work at the former Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why so it can be transformed into an IGA supermarket. Picture: Supplied
Internal demolition work at the former Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why so it can be transformed into an IGA supermarket. Picture: Supplied
The interior of the Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why, which closed in April 2022. Picture: Facebook (Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant
The interior of the Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why, which closed in April 2022. Picture: Facebook (Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant
The gutted interior of the closed down Austrian Beer Bar restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why on Friday. Picture: Jim O'Rourke
The gutted interior of the closed down Austrian Beer Bar restaurant on The Strand at Dee Why on Friday. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

The council confirmed that on October 7, an external Complying Development Certificate approved the change of use of the “food and drink premise to a supermarket, including internal fit-out works”.

The council website noted that the cost of the works was $256,000.

The Aschners were the owners of the IGA Wahroonga Fresh supermarket, on the North Shore from November 2019 to April this year.

The view from the first floor of the Austrian Beer Bar on The Strand at Dee Why, which closed in April 2022. Picture: Facebook (Austrian Beer Bar)
The view from the first floor of the Austrian Beer Bar on The Strand at Dee Why, which closed in April 2022. Picture: Facebook (Austrian Beer Bar)

They now own the McMahons Point Grocer in Blue Point Rd, McMahons Point and the Coogee-Randwick Grocer.

The owner of the Austrian bar, Ernest Doppler, posted on Facebook in April that “it is with a heavy heart that we announce we are not renewing our lease”

“We have never faced such difficult trading times with Covid shut downs, lack of staff, difficulty to procure overseas beers and now the rising cost of food and we feel now is the right time to exit the market,” Mr Doppler wrote.

“It has been our pleasure to enjoy being part of the Dee Why scene and we have met so many amazing people.”

The new IGA is scheduled to open in late November or early December.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/iga-dee-why-beach-jimmy-monique-aschner-to-open-iga-in-former-austrian-beer-bar/news-story/9acf1446b053dac741f8faece4bbdaff