Hill Street grocer expansion continues with 10th store expected to be finished by October

Tasmanian independent grocer Hill Street is about to hit double digits with its 10th store currently under construction. Find out where it will be.

Brothers Nektarios and Nick Nikitaras at their West Hobart Hill Street Grocer store. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

TASMANIAN independent grocer Hill Street is about to hit double digits – with its 10th store currently under construction.

The latest Hill Street is being built on Churchill Ave, Sandy Bay, directly opposite an entrance to the University of Tasmania.

Co-owner Nick Nikitaras said the latest store would service local residents, as well as staff and students from the university.

The 530 square metres of retail space is expected to be finished by September or October.

The Hill Street Grocer started out in West Hobart and has spread statewide. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“Our new store in Sandy Bay will incorporate the things that customers love about shopping at Hill Street, including fresh local produce, meat and fish, and our famous friendly customer service, plus some exciting new concepts,” Mr Nikitaras said.

“We have designed an aesthetically beautiful retail space that we can’t wait to share with customers when we open.”

The new store is being built on the site of the old UniPrint (UTAS ITS Service Desk) building, which has already been demolished to make way for the work.

The university closed its in-house printing operation, which printed exams and other materials, in 2017 and outsourced the university’s print work.

The site was sold off by the university in December last year, after it successfully applied for the parcel to be subdivided.

UTAS has taken the Tasmanian Planning Commission to the Supreme Court over a planning refusal which would allow the university to sell off other redundant assets.

UTAS put forward an application to the Hobart City Council last year for an adjustment to the zoning of several sites on the high side of Churchill Ave — including the commerce building, Hytten Hall, buildings at 6 Grace St and 371 Sandy Bay Rd as well as 100ha of land.

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In the Supreme Court in Hobart last week, UTAS said the purpose of the amendment was to allow for subdivision.

UTAS has said there will be no wholesale sell off of the Sandy Bay campus, although it is considering its future direction.

UTAS is consulting with the wider community about whether to pursue a city-centric model or rebuild the outdated Sandy Bay facilities.