Blackburn Station Village: call for produce stores among cafes
Calls are growing for produce and grocery stores at a shopping village in the eastern suburbs where Melbourne’s love of coffee might be going too far.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Shoppers and traders are calling for more produce stores to open among the abundance of coffee shops and real estate agents at a shopping precinct in Melbourne’s east.
As part of the Love Where You Shop campaign, the focus was on Blackburn Station Village, and it’s clear: people searching for a coffee and a piece of cake are spoiled for choice, but those looking for fresh produce or grocery items will find it tough going.
The shopping spot was light on for options for groceries and household supplies before its only supermarket, Blackburn IGA, closed on November 8.
Residents and traders are calling for another supermarket to fill the void and other produce stores, such as a deli, butcher and bakery, to add to the mix.
Laura Davis, who owns Blackburn Station Village holistic medical clinic Vital Chi Wellness, said the shopping precinct would benefit from healthy food produce stores and a decent supermarket.
She said a lot of people came through the village — with about 500 people stopping to frequent her business alone each week — on top of the many commuters who used Blackburn railway station.
But she said the group of shops lacked the variety for people to do their shopping in one hit.
“There’s no where that you can pick up any groceries at all, but there are so many coffee shops,” she said.
Having been in the area for four years, she said she thought it definitely had the potential to become a thriving shopping area with the right tenants.
When Whitehorse Leader asked readers what they would like to see, many agreed more produce stores were needed, while others wanted more restaurants.
Several suggested a Coles Local, like the one that opened in Surrey Hills in November 2018, would be successful in the area.
“No more coffee shops,” Rebekah Mitchell-Matthews said, while Deanne Bell said a bakery and a butcher were needed.
MORE: STRUGGLING SHOPPING CENTRE’S $40M NEW LEASE ON LIFE
WHY BLACKBURN’S ONLY SUPERMARKET IS SHUTTING UP SHOP
YET ANOTHER ILLEGAL SUBURBAN BROTHEL SHUT DOWN
Coles spokesman Callum Griffin said the supermarket chain was always looking for ways to expand its offer for Blackburn residents.
“Many customers from the area shop in our nearby stores in Forest Hill, Mitcham and Box Hill,” he said.
But Mr Griffin gave no indication Blackburn was being considered as a future location, saying the company would keep communities informed when it planned to open a Coles Local in their area.