RETAIL giants Ikea and JB Hi-Fi have topped a Western Advocate readers’ poll for new shops to open inside the disused Masters building in Kelso.
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The massive 11,355 square metre Masters building has been vacant since December after Woolworths sold the failing chain of stores to a group of wealthy Australian business people operating under the name Home Consortium.
Bathurst Regional Council has approved plans to convert the building to nine shops ranging in size from 246 square metres to almost 2500 square metres – along with a small cafe – and the Western Advocate polled our readers about what shops they would like to see there.
More than 2000 votes were cast in the poll with Swedish self-assembly furniture kings Ikea topping the ballot with 27 per cent of the vote, followed by electronics giant JB Hi-Fi with 20 per cent.
Kmart again attracted strong support despite not being listed among the 12 options in the poll.
More than 300 people took the time to list Kmart as their “other” option, making other the third highest-polling result.
Lincraft, Barbecues Galore, Workout World and Forty Winks were the least-favoured options, accroding to our poll.
The Home Consortium includes Melbourne-based Chemist Warehouse owners Mario Verrochi and Jack Gance and retail rich-listers Zac Fried and Morry Fraid who own the Anaconda and Spotlight stores.
It is being led by UBS banker David Di Pilla, who is a major investor, along with his parents-in-law Mary and Alex Shaw, and Greg Hayes.
Others chipping in are UBS directors Robbie Vanderzeil and Matthew Grounds.
Readers’ views on Facebook
- Luke Heunks: Maybe something interesting or unique to cater for Bathurst's youth and young adult population rather than more of the same generic retail outlets we already have.
- Zac Mackintosh: While Ikea and JB Hi-Fi would be great, I voted for Toys R Us! Would be great to have somewhere that offered a wide range of toys and kids’ stuff at a decent price.
- Sarah Pender: And for the big name stores you want in town, how many will force local small businesses to close & put off all their staff? If Rebel comes to town you will lose the 4 smaller sports shops in town.
- Sandra Paine: It's ridiculous to think that Bathurst doesn't have Kmart and JB HiFi already.
- Marli Batten: Shoe shop! Our options are getting low with the recent closure of yet another shoe shop.
- Keira Monk: Bathurst needs a Chemist Warehouse.
