Neighbourhood shops: Winston Hills’ The Chisholm Centre

Away from the shadows of mega malls and the main drags, neighbourhood shops are thriving as old school service meets modern enterprise. Enjoy the first instalment in our new weekly series, Corner Store Heroes.

Most Aussies hold nostalgia for the humble milk bar. Despite the first one, the Black and White Milk Bar, popping up in Martin Place in central Sydney, in 1932, they soon spread to the suburbs and would be a go-to for a milkshake or Bubble O’ Bill ice cream over the decades.

While the beloved milk bar is now an endangered species, other small businesses have populated the quieter streets of our suburbs and have evolved into a treasure trove of delicatessens, newsagents, cafes, bakeries and chemists, helping the local economy tick along and provide a convenient alternative to congested shopping complexes.

Our new series Corner Store Heroes celebrates the best of neighbourhood shops, starting with The Chisholm Centre.

Winston Hills

An endless stream of customers pour into The Chisholm Centre shops where you can find Sydney’s “original Chook A Licious wrap”; seniors, workers and tradies sipping coffee; regulars ordering cakes, slurping Vietnamese pho; or visiting the real estate office to buy a home in one of Winston Hills’ leafy streets.

Chook A Licious is the popular kid on the block and run by the Asarlogou clan, which has a loyal history in the suburb.

Theo’s dad Chris migrated to Australia from Greece in 1972 and opened the Winston Hills Takeaway and Milk Bar in 1985 before Winston Hills Mall was extended on the site. After running More than a Chook for 12 years, the family opened Chook A Licious in 2011.

Chris’ youngest son, Theo, and cousin Chris Gioumidis are keeping the Aussie milk bar tradition alive with modern twists alongside the barbecue chooks, hamburgers and fish and chips.

Theo Asarlogou and his father Chris at Chook A Licious.

There’s a cabinet stuffed with cannoli, muffins, banana bread, peri peri sauce, aioli while Gioumidis’ coffee machine goes into overdrive.

Burgers and wraps’ parochial titles reflect the business’ passion for the area — Bellotti and Churchill are named after the suburb’s streets, as is the signature Chisholm burger (grilled chicken with peri peri sauce) and the Chook A Licious wrap, which is also marinated in peri peri mayonnaise and stuffed with hot chips.

“We were inspired by the Greek gyros but didn’t have the meat so we got grilled chicken,’’ Theo said.

“We were the original place to have this wrap in Sydney.’’

Five years ago, the family sold Capella’s Pizza before it became a fish and chip shop, but now you’re more likely to find customers knocking back banh mi and noodles at Vietnamese eatery My Hao.

Duy Bui at My Hao Vietnamese Cuisine and Cafe.

It’s next door to the Bagel Bakery Cafe where you’ll find customers refuelling on iridescent meringues, macarons, cupcakes, tea cakes, caramel twists, rock cakes, lamingtons and having a chat with Lin Heang about how they want the icing to adorn their birthday cakes.

It’s almost like a fancy tuck shop from the ‘80s, with gelato and coffee another drawcard alongside the tall baguettes.

Theo, 33, sees the value in small business like those thriving at the tight-knit community shops.

“It’s become more of a destination,’’ he said.

“It’s become a halfway house sort of thing where they come for coffee, meet and get on with the rest of the day.’’

Just before the lockdown, Parramatta Council upgraded the centre with tables, benches and seats to the small plaza area.

“The spruce up really helped us during Covid,’’ Theo said.

“We were open for takeaway only. It was tough. No one was at work so their outing was to come to the shops or go to the park.

“It definitely brought it back to life.

“It’s more of an inner west vibe.’’

Chook A Licious co-owner Theo Asarlogou with loyal customer Stephen Samson.

Along with the locals, Parramatta Eels are known to drop in for a feed (Chook A Licious also provides catering to some training sessions at Kellyville) but they’re just among the many loyal customers flocking to the shops, which include the Chisholm Centre Pharmacy, Award Group Real Estate and a street library for the book lovers.

“Shopping centres are a thing of the past,’’ Theo said.

“They’re not what they used to be.

“I greet my customers on a first-name basis. It’s what it’s all about.’’

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