BURONGA’S highly anticipated supermarket is set to open on Wednesday next week.
Director Steve Saunders and his wife April have worked hard over the past six years to make the supermarket a reality and are excited to see the last stages coming together.
“To actually be walking around it now, when it’s nearly finished is very, very exciting,” Mr Saunders said.
“We’re putting stock on the shelves now so we’re starting to lay the store out inside, set the cafe up and things like that, so it’s really starting to take shape.”
The Midway Market Place was set to open before Easter but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay.
Mr Saunders said construction of the supermarket started about 14 months ago and the building process had ended up being three to four months longer than anticipated.
But Mr Saunders believes it will be worth the wait, with several drawcards such as a new cafe that will seat up to 25 people inside and 30 outside.
“It should be a nice spot for people to come on a weekend and just chill out,” he said.
The supermarket deli is also something Mr Saunders is very excited to be offering customers.
“We’re going to run an exclusive range of cheeses and prosciuttos, plus some different things that haven’t been available in Mildura before,” he said.
“We’re going to make that a real focus for the supermarket and make it a drawcard so that people from all over the district will hopefully come over here to do some shopping and get some bits and pieces they haven’t been able to get in Sunraysia before.”
Mr Saunders also believes it is important to support local people, which is why he will source as much local produce as he can.
“That way you get fresher products on the shelf,” he said.
“A lot of the time, when supermarkets open, it can be a negative on small business, but by involving other people we’re trying to make it positive for everyone.”
