Aiming for top shelf

PLANS for a new gourmet supermarket have been submitted to Clarence City Council.

Servicing residents of Cambridge, Midway Point, Seven Mile Beach, Acton Park and Richmond, proponents of the plan hope it could be open before the end of the year.

A NEW independently owned gourmet supermarket has been proposed for Hobart’s Eastern Shore, which would have a strong focus on locally sourced produce.

Owners of Battery Point bar Preachers, husband and wife Chris and Meecah Cooper, have proposed the supermarket, to be called The Local Grocer, at the Cambridge Park Centre and have submitted a development application to the Clarence City Council.

It would be located next door to their existing Cellarbrations bottle shop, which was previously home to Clever Fitness.

The 350sq m store would specialise in fresh fruit and vegetables, locally sourced deli and bakery items, non-perishable convenience goods and ready-made meals.

Mr Cooper said the store, which he hoped to have open before the end of the year, would be in the same vein as Hill Street, Salamanca Fresh and TCM.

“We want the store to be next level — we want it to be pretty amazing and for people to walk in and go ‘wow’,” he said.

Open from 8am to 8pm, the store would look to service residents of Cambridge, Midway Point, Seven Mile Beach, Acton Park and Richmond, with a total potential customer base of almost 7500.

“Ever since we opened the bottle shop, every third customer says ‘I wish there was a supermarket in this complex’,” Mr Cooper said.

“This whole time I’ve been thinking, if I could afford to do one I would. I know the demand is there, and now here we are.

“We also believe that a quality grocery offering is something that is currently missing from the centre, and will be a key ingredient in attracting more customers and ensuring the continued growth and success of Cambridge Park.”

Mr Cooper said they hoped to get IGA on board with the development in the future, if they meet the required criteria.

The development application is open for public comment until May 25.