Almost 50 jobs are expected to be created when 12 new tenancies in the former Richies IGA store at Rutherford open.
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In a $2million rejig, the former supermarket will be broken up into separate businesses which will be a mix of retail and food stores according to leasing agent Matthew Higgins of Starr Partners Maitland.
The shops will range in size from 44 metres square to 425 metres square across a 2000 metres square site.
Ritchies Supa IGA, formerly Bullens IGA Supermarket, closed its doors in January - NSW state manager David Scally citing the over saturation of other supermarkets in the precinct.
It began trading as Richies IGA in 2004.
It employed about 25 at the time of closure - 11 of those were full-time.
The design of the new building will be ultra modern and create a fresh space for new and existing tenants to prosper in the growing Rutherford area
- Matthew Higgins, Starr Partners Maitland
Mr Higgins said there has been good interest from potential tenants with three signed leases and another three under offer.
He expects the tenancies to employ at least four people in each.
"The whole site is undergoing a face lift with brand new exterior which includes 3m high glass shopfronts," Mr Higgins said.
"The IGA fit out has been removed as well as a proportion of the external brickwork."
Mr Higgins said the property is owned by a Sydney-based, family.
"They have owned the site for the past 12 years," Mr Higgins said.
"They saw an opportunity, once IGA decided to vacate, to make the Rutherford mall the hub of the shopping precinct again.
"The design of the new building will be ultra modern and create a fresh space for new and existing tenants to prosper in the growing Rutherford area," Mr Higgins said.
It will have a completely new facade and the old tiled roof will be changed giving it a more modern look.
Work on the building's exterior is expected to be complete in about four weeks.
Rutherford is in demand and growing as reported nationally earlier this year.
"More people are settling in the area and deserve a variety when it comes to shopping," Mr Higgins said.