BEELIAR residents can now do their grocery shopping locally after the long-awaited opening of IGA Beeliar at the Beeliar shopping centre in Meve Estate.
The 900sqm supermarket is just the beginning for the greenfield site, with plans for a further eight speciality stores that could include a bakery, newsagency, takeaway food outlets and a hair and beauty salon.
The opening of IGA Beeliar created more than 30 full-time equivalent jobs, employing about 60 staff across the range of opening hours from 7am to 9pm.
Franchisee Frank Oliveri said the operation sourced about 25 staff from the nearby community, 70 per cent of whom were juniors.
“There was a huge response for jobs advertised through the local paper,” he said.
Mr Oliveri said he and co-owner Anthony Oliveri had 52 years of retail experience between them.
“One thing that cannot be overlooked is our vision to serve the Beeliar community at the highest level of service, ensuring it becomes a new shopping experience for our local Beeliar community.”
He said this would include the creation of a “neighbourhood range” within the supermarket that would be expanded to meet demand.
Planning for the second stage of the shopping centre includes a possible lakeside cafe and commercial office suites.