Residents ecstatic over highly anticipated Woolworths Gabuda-Gordonvale
Far North residents have eagerly awaited the launch of a new supermarket that was a decade in the making. READ WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
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GORDONVALE residents queued outside in the hope of being the first through the doors when the town’s newest supermarket opened on Wednesday.
After a decade of legal wrangles and delays, Woolworths Gabuda-Gordonvale finally opened for business and the customer feedback was positive.
Woolworths Gabuda-Gordonvale opens with Scan & Go technology
Store manager, Geoffrey Pearcy, said he was confident they will beat their projected sales for the day with trolley shoppers keeping every check-out lane busy.
“It’s been busier than we expected which is awesome, we feel really embraced by the community,” he said.
“We’re a real supermarket now.”
Among the stocked aisles, easy-to-navigate layout and modern furnishings was a local shopper Naomie Mills, who was wide-eyed at the sight.
Gordonvale Woolworths shopping centre construction officially begins
“I wasn’t expecting it to be like this, it’s really done well,” she said.
“It’s so convenient, it’s only five minutes down the road from me now.”
Brinsmead resident Madeline Farrall was in the area and came across the store by chance.
“Everything’s easy to find, it’s open, it’s more organised than any other Woolworths I’ve been to,” she said.
Gordonvale resident Brett Campbell said he was happy to see the new store after recently returning from interstate
“It was a hassle getting to our last grocery store with all the road works and whatnot and we’re pretty much two minutes down the road now,” he said.
“I never thought I’d get excited about a supermarket.”
Kierra King was eager to see how the supermarket will stand the test of time days, weeks and months after the opening.
“It’s does look to be more stocked but again it’s the first day so I’m hoping it stays that way,” she said.
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Ms King was most excited to see the store’s Scan & Go technology which allows customers to scan item barcodes as they shop before reaching the checkout.
“It sounds interesting, I’d definitely give it a go,” she said.
The shopping centre has seven specialty retailers and about 200 carpark spaces.
Retailers include Gordonvale Noodle House, a pharmacist, Discount Drug Store, Cignall, and JSL Phone Repairs, with more to come.
Mr Pearcy said the new Woolworths store would provide 100 local jobs, including 44 new team members and 19 First Nations team members.
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Originally published as Residents ecstatic over highly anticipated Woolworths Gabuda-Gordonvale