Out of all the stores trading at the Boorooma Shopping Plaza, only one isn’t part of a major chain or franchise. Photo: Chris Roe.
The opening of the new McDonald’s and Coles at the Boorooma Plaza Shopping Centre has raised concerns about the lack of independent Wagga-owned small businesses at the centre.
Of the stores operating there, only one, Hadley’s Cafe, is not part of a bigger chain.
The remaining nine stores are Coles, McDonald’s, Chemist Warehouse, IGA, BP, Domino’s, Subway, Liquorland and Splash Laundrette.
Farm Door’s Zoe Lamont believes small businesses should be better represented.
“There is only one quality family-run food-based business in Boorooma. The rest are just massive franchises that have businesses everywhere,” she said.
“We need to make sure that in new developments, these local small businesses are prioritised,” she said.
“We can’t just be letting these massive, big chains come and run them all. It’s an absolute tragedy and a complete missed opportunity to create something innovative.”
Hadley’s Cafe owner George Liakatos said he was not shocked by the number of chains at the centre, highlighting that the plaza remained empty for more than a year before businesses started to open up.
“A lot of these chains haven’t even been here for a year yet,” he said.
“For quite a while, it was just us, Domino’s and Chemist Warehouse. I don’t really know if that’s because people didn’t see the potential here or not, but it was dormant for a long time.
“It makes sense that if a space is empty for long enough, someone will take a chance on it.
“We’re still not sure how the new Coles and McDonald’s will affect us, but I will say, before the Coles opened, the parking situation was horrible. Now, at least, there is a chance for people to properly park.”
Booroooma is becoming dominated by franchises. Photo: Supplied.
Wagga Ratepayers Association secretary Dr Lynne Bodell said Boorooma, Estella and Gobbagombalin would provide more business opportunities.
“The area is still growing and really did need something like a Coles. I don’t think we needed another Maccas, but these kinds of businesses do draw customers and other businesses to them,” she said.
“As the bigger businesses start to draw other people, then smaller ones will start to feed off the passing trade. We will probably then see smaller businesses more keen to get out there.”
Ms Bodell said that while bigger businesses currently owned the space, a lot of them supported locals.
“Some of those franchises are actually run and staffed by local people, so you’re still supporting some locals to some degree, and it just gives us a starting point,” she said.
“The area is still growing and really did need something like a Coles. I don’t think we needed another Maccas, but these kinds of businesses do draw customers and other businesses to them.
“It’s the same deal with the SAP. At the moment, there’s not a lot at the Special Activation Precinct. They’re waiting for the first big business to go out there, then the other ones will come along.
“It takes a bigger fish to come in first, and then the small ones will follow. So I think give it time, and we will see more make the shift.”
