Maitland's Central Business District is about to receive a third supermarket with new kid on the block, Maxi Save, set to open its first store.
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Maxi Save is expected to open in August in the former Sam's Warehouse building on the corner of Elgin Street and Ken Tubman Drive.
Plans for the supermarket have already been approved by Maitland City Council and two separate applications have also been lodged for a liquor licence and signage.
Maxi Save spokesman Kieran Rogers said the business is owned by a Newcastle-based family and the long term plan is for Maitland to be the first of many Maxi Save supermarkets.
Mr Rogers said the business will carry all supermarket lines from fresh produce to meat and other food and household groceries.
"We will be carrying the top brands but at competitive prices," he said.
The supermarket and liquor development will occupy the building's entire space.
Sam’s Warehouse was once the main tenant in what was known as Maitland Market Place, with several other specialty outlets operating from the same location.
When the family purchased the premises it also included 126 car parks under Maitland District Leagues Club as part of the package. Mr Rogers would not disclose the development cost.
He said the supermarket itself will sit on 1500 square metres of space. It will employ 30 people made up of full-time and casual staff and will have five checkouts.
Mr Rogers said the family behind the development has had its eye on Maitland with its track record of being one of the country's fastest growing cities. "It just happened that the right opportunity came up at the right time," he said.
"This business will bring a healthy competition and more life into the city centre and I think everyone will be quite surprised."
He said the site is currently under construction and the Elgin Street access will be transformed into an impressive main entrance with most of the existing brick work removed.
The site was previously owned by Aldi who had plans to build it's inner-city supermarket and liquor store in the old warehouse site.
Fairfax Media reported in May last year that Aldi Australia had sold the premises and announced new plans to open a store in Maitland’s Riverside Plaza.
The announcement followed speculation the German supermarket giant would open a supermarket and bottle shop in a tenancy between Best and Less and Kmart.
Fairfax property website Domain shows the Sam’s Warehouse site sold by private treaty in 2016 for $3.3million and again by private treaty last year for $5.5million.
Once complete the new Maxi Save supermarket will compete with nearby Woolworths at Pender Place and Aldi in Riverside Plaza.
