Googong residents will soon be able to shop near home rather than having to travel to Jerrabomberra or Queanbeyan.
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Construction of the North Village Centre is expected to be completed by the end of the year with retailers expected to open their doors early in 2018.
Construction has started and the shape of the centre is already visible at the site on the corner of Gorman Drive and Caragh Avenue.
It will include a 1100 square metre IGA that will be owned and operated by John Efkarpidis whose family has owned independent supermarkets in the ACT for decades.
“I saw the Googong supermarket as a great opportunity to provide a missing need in the community,” Mr Efkarpidis said.
“I want to embrace the community and I’m hoping they will embrace me.
“My intention is for my staff and I to know 80-90 per cent of our customers by name.
“We want to provide new ideas, for instance parents will be able to order their kids lunches and can pick them up on the way to school.”
The centre will feature a café/bar, several restaurants and a gym. The Discount Pharmacy Group has signed on to provide medical services and Our Place Education Services will operate a childcare.
Negotiations are underway to bring a local vet and hairdresser to the centre with a butcher, baker and newsagency expected upon completion.
Googong project director Malcolm Leslie said the centre was a milestone for the area that would add to the community spirit they are trying to develop.
“We’ve been focused on creating a community here at Googong ever since we started and there’s a really strong sense of that here.”
“The centre has been designed to be connected to the street, connected to the community.”
The exterior of the new shopping centre, including car parking and landscaping, is expected to be completed next month.