UPDATE: Aldi says it's first Western Australian store is set to open in mid-2016, at the state’s largest shopping centre, the Lend Lease-owned Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City.
Speaking to Business News at the opening of Lakeside Joondalup’s $320 million extension today, Lend Lease national head of retail Gary Horwitz said Aldi would be a key addition to the centre.
Mr Horwitz said construction of the Aldi store would be complete between the middle and end of next year, with the discount supermarket giant expected to start fitout works shortly afterwards.
Lakeside Joondalup boasts three discount department stores in Kmart, Big W and Target, while there are three supermarkets, Coles, Woolworths and IGA already operating at the centre.
Aldi is in the middle of rolling out a $700 million expansion in WA, with planning approvals or commitments in place for stores in Kwinana, Cannington, Southern River, Halls Head, Rockingham, Australind, South Lake, Camillo, Midland, Mundaring and Ellenbrook.
An Aldi spokesperson said the Lakeside Joondalup store would be among the first to open in WA in 2016, while there was also a possibility of a simultaneous opening of more than one store.
Mr Horwitz said the Aldi supermarket at Lakeside Joondalup would be located adjacent to the centre’s Station Square casual dining precinct, which is still under construction.
Another high-profile tenant set to open next year at Lakeside Joondalup is CopaCabana International, a Cuban-themed restaurant based out of Melbourne which Mr Horwitz said would complement the centre’s other food offerings.
Mr Horwitz said the casual dining precinct would be a significant step up from the existing food court at Lakeside Joondalup.
“It’s designed to meet the aspirational needs of the shoppers here,” Mr Horwitz said.
“It’s about entertaining your customer and giving them a reason to come, not just to shop, but to dine, to be entertained and to spend time.”
Mr Horwitz said Lend Lease would continue development at Lakeside Joondalup, with planning already under way for the next stage of expansion.
The centre now comprises more than 300 speciality stores alongside the department and supermarket offerings.
“The demand is there, we’re fully leased on opening the new extension, so that gives us a great platform to move forward,” he said.
Part of Lakeside Joondalup's new retail space, officially opened today.
The 29,000 square metre extension at Lakeside Joondalup takes the centre to 100,000sqm, bolstered by a 12,000sqm flagship Myer department store, the first new Myer to arrive in WA for 20 years.
WA Governor Kerry Sanderson was on hand today to unveil the opening plaque for the new stage of the mall.
Ms Sanderson said the development of the centre in close proximity to the Joondalup train station epitomised good planning principles, in line with the state government’s Activity Centres policy.
“Activity centres are a focal point of community life, not just providing places for commercial activity, but also places where people can live and work,” the governor said.
“I see Lakeside Joondalup as a great example of what can be achieved through state and local governments working together with the private sector and engaging with the community.”
Lend Lease national head of retail Gary Horwitz (left) and Governor Kerry Sanderson, with Myer's Kerry Davenport and Wanneroo MLA Paul Miles at today's opening.
