Real estate: West Footscray promised new retail hub on 1 Ormond Rd

For more than 14 years, this corner location in West Footscray has been left abandoned — now it’s set to become a retail hub for the community.

An artist’s impression of the new retail development for Ormond Rd

A dilapidated former fruit and veg shop vacant for more than 14 years in the western suburbs is being turned into seven-store development, including wine bar.

The large building at 1 Ormond Rd, West Footscray has sat idle for years, with graffiti covering boarded up shop fronts, but new images reveal a much-needed revamp.

James Gregson Commercial’s Martin Huang said the seven shops — ranging from 37sq m to 159sq m — were priced from $640,000, and would “better serve the community”.

“Our clients purchased it just to redevelop it instead of stripping it down ... to create a speciality retail hub to bid ... because the community lacks such special retail strips,” Mr Huang said.

“I would love just to walk two or five minutes down the road to grab a coffee, get a haircut or buy flowers.”

Mr Huang said the shops were ideal for wine bars, hairdressers and florists, and had already attracted “massive interest” since it was listed two weeks ago.

“We‘re going to be very stringent with the buyers and see what they want to do with the shops. We won’t just open into the market, saying everyone’s welcome to purchase. We’re going to be vetting every single purchaser, and in terms of investment, we will be leasing all the shops before suddenly selling as an investment,” he said.

Mr Huang said owner-occupiers were welcome, but it would depend on their use.

“We are hoping we can provide value to the community; we need speciality retail to make a little hub like a gathering area for the community,” he said.

“It‘s more to serve the community than just doing a real estate transaction.”