Boorooma residents have given their tick of approval to the carpark at the new Boorooma Coles. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
North Wagga residents no longer have to travel over the Gobba Bridge to visit a Coles or Woolies supermarket, as the long-awaited Coles Supermarket at Boorooma is now open.
In the works since early 2023, the new supermarket saw thousands flock through its doors when it opened on Thursday (4 December).
Despite concerns about the parking and lanes of traffic in and out of the Boorooma Shopping Centre prior to the store’s opening, many residents have voiced their approval of the store.
Boorooma’s Amy Reynolds said prior to the store’s opening, parking was difficult, however the extra space added by Coles was a welcome addition.
“Getting up into the parking near Chemist Warehouse was awful,” she said.
“It had that steep ramp and tight turning area before you get into the parking area, making a quick trip to get your scripts or pizza take longer and more frustrating.
“The Coles carpark looks good; there’s a roundabout for entry. The entry way itself is a bit weird, so it’ll be interesting to see how it goes in the busy period.
“But parking spots are great, much easier to get in and out of than the ones near Chemist Warehouse.”
With the introduction of the carpark, more than 153 new spaces have opened up, including six for families with prams and six for seniors.
Most of Coles’ new 153 parking spaces are undercover. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Ms Reynolds said that prior to the store’s opening, she would only rarely visit Foodworks, the only other grocery store north of the bridge.
“It’s definitely going to make grocery shopping on this side of the bridge more affordable,” she said.
“I would go to Foodworks sometimes, but only for a little shop, like a quick dinner or if I’m only missing one ingredient. Foodworks is great, but it definitely costs more in comparison. I think it’ll really make a difference for people who don’t drive.
“It had everything I needed, just a smaller bakery section than the other Coles. It also has a Liquorland, which I’m not sure if we really needed that; I already had two bottle shops in walking distance.”
Store manager Karen Baxter said there was plenty of excitement once the doors finally opened and she was excited for others to experience it.
“When they saw the brand-new store for the first time, they were like kids in a candy store,” she said.
“The northern suburbs are growing quickly with retirees, young families and university students, and they all need a local spot they can rely on. We’re excited to become part of people’s everyday lives and a real part of the community.”
Coles Boorooma is located at 4 – 6 Messenger Avenue and will be open Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 10 pm and Sunday from 8 am to 10 pm.
Liquorland Boorooma is located adjacent to Coles and will be open from 9 am to 8 pm Monday to Wednesday, 9 am to 9 pm Thursday to Saturday and 10 am to 7 pm on Sunday.
