Keilor Rd supermarket closure leads to 50 job losses
It has been a Keilor Rd institution for almost 100 years, but increasing costs and traffic chaos proved the final nail for this Essendon IGA store. The families behind the business share what went right and what went wrong.
North West
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After 97 years, Boundy’s IGA on Keilor Rd has closed its doors forever.
The much-loved community supermarket in Essendon traded for the last time on January 12 after owners announced its closure in November.
The independent supermarket started out as a grocery store on the opposite side of the street in 1923, founded by George Boundy.
It became a family affair when he was joined by his brothers Bill and Bob, and later, his own son John.
The Priestley family joined the business venture in 1968 when Roger Priestley decided to take the plunge and leave his banking job.
Together, Mr Boundy and Mr Priestley opened up a new Boundy’s IGA store in Keilor Rd in 1973.
Since then, John’s children Steve and Andrew, his son-in-law Brett Smith and Roger’s son Greg have all worked at the family business.
John Boundy said he remembered the first day he and Roger opened up the new supermarket.
“We put a lot of work into filling all the shelves and having everything ready for the grand opening,” he said.
“On opening day Roger and I sat in our office for a few minutes and the place was packed with people and we were so excited just watching them come in and using the place for the first time.
“When we looked again in the afternoon, the shelves were almost empty.”
It was a stark contrast to the memory of the last day of operation, director Greg Priestley said.
“It was a Sunday so there were a lot of casuals around, and a number of them were emotional about it,” he said.
“It started to process and we thought, it’s real now.”
The closure resulted in job losses to up to 50 staff, including 20 permanent employees.
Mr Boundy said those cut had been paid full entitlements.
Mr Priestley said the heartbreaking decision was due to many factors including an increase of the costs of operation, stiff competition and traffic chaos on Bulla and Mt Alexander Rd that had made it difficult to cross.
Mr Boundy said although they were all deeply saddened by the decision, they’d had a good run.
“People recognised us as good honest people that were interested in their health and wellbeing, as well as serving their groceries,” he said.
“They used this as a catch up place for their neighbours and friends, it was a real meeting place.
“A lot of people have worked here for decades and they’re disappointed and hurt, they understand, but that doesn’t stop the hurt.”
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The supermarket has gone through many changes over the years and evolved with the rise of modern day technology.
“We started with mechanical registers, you needed almost two people to lift them – they were a beautiful machine,” he said.
“We’d have to write prices on every item, except specials.”
Greg Priestley said his favourite part of working at the store were the customers.
“We knew our customers by their name, not their credit card,” he said.
The site at 25-29 Keilor Rd will be up for sale next month.
The families also run an IGA store in Buckley St.