A suburban supermarket has closed after 50 years, saying it can’t compete with nearby supermarket giant

SARAH SPENCER
APRIL 15, 2015
CITY NORTH MESSENGER

WALKERVILLE IGA has shut its doors for the last time in an “emotional” ending for a local supermarket which has served the suburb for more than 50 years.
Manager Toby Lee, who has been at the store for 17 years, said it could no longer compete with a neighbouring 2500sq m Woolworths, built in 2013.
Woolworths opened its doors in April 2013 and Mr Lee said he had tried to keep the IGA afloat, with the help of loyal patrons.
But it could not afford to keep fighting and closed last week.
“The new Woolworths store is 6.5 times the size of our IGA,” Mr Lee said.
“We can’t compete with Woolworths anymore, it’s not viable, and it’s just not paying the bills.
“This is a small community area and it’s just so sad that we have to close.
“Our loyal customers kept coming in to help us stay open but we’ve been fighting for two years and we’ve lost.”
On Friday the Smith St store was looking bare and shelves empty as staff prepared for the closure and customers walked out the doors holding back tears.
Signs filled the store saying: “Thank you for all the support over the years, however due to competition the store is no longer viable. Sincerely, the IGA staff.”
Mr Lee said the IGA had become more than just a supermarket for its customers and more than a job for its staff.
“We have little old ladies who say they always come here and many have had a few tears as they’ve left the store for the last time,” Mr Lee said.
“I remember a kid in the area as a two-year-old and I gave him a job here now he’s a teenager and he just had his last shift on Friday.
“It is hard because we exclusively hired local kids which gave them jobs and all of their family would come here.
“Our staff know many of the customers on a first-name basis and some of them will go help the elderly clients on the weekend if they need anything at home.”
Mr Lee raised concerns that other smaller stores around Woolworths would suffer the same fate.
“The chain now has five Woolworths in a 5km radius of Walkerville, they dominate the market,” Mr Lee said.
“No doubt this store will have an impact not only on the independents in the market, but erode the business of the existing Woolworths stores too.”
City North Messenger has sought comment from Woolworths.