Tara Murray
Mickleham residents hit the shops last week as the early awaited Merrifield City opened.
The first stage of the new retail and lifestyle hub, which includes the region’s first full-Coles supermarket, opened its doors on Wednesday.
Merrifield developers MAB Corporation and Gibson Property Corporation and real estate investment firm QICGRE say the centre will form part of the Merrifield town centre, which will be developed over a number of years and combine shopping, dining, civic and cultural experiences.
The shopping centre is the first in Mickleham, expected to grow to more than 140,000 residents by 2041.
QICGRE Australian investment management director Daryl Stubbings said the first stage of the centre was opening on time despite the extensive COVID-19-related disruptions.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to deliver this new precinct on time, as promised,” he said.
“And to do so with over 95 per cent of the centre’s tenancies leased illustrates the high demand we’ve seen from retailers wanting to be a part of this exciting new project and to play a role in the evolution of this dynamic, fast-growing community.”
Coles, Liquorland and eight speciality operators, including Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses and Indian grocery chain Quality Food Store were among the stores to open last week.
“Over the next few years, the centre will evolve into a major retail and lifestyle hub for the region, offering a range of shopping, dining, civic and cultural experiences for this highly engaged and rapidly expanding community,“ Mr Stubbings said.
Mr Stubbings said as well as providing much-needed shops for local residents, the centre had created a boom for local employment.
The initial phase of the development has generated over 1000 construction jobs and another 300 ongoing jobs in retail.
A number of shops, including Chemist Warehouse, are set to open in the new year.
