BUSINESS owners are hoping retail developments will encourage more foot traffic in the CBD.
Cheap as Chips will be the newest edition to the Beveridge Street strip, filling the vacant shop which used to house Sam’s Warehouse.
It is set to open its doors to customers this Thursday.
Shops owners nearby said the closing of the warehouse brought a decrease in foot traffic along the street — however, they hope the new Cheap as Chips and the relatively new Supercheap Auto store will draw people back.
With brand new signage and fresh coats of paint on their exteriors, the shops have brought a breath of fresh air to the existing environment.
Cheap as Chips store manager Eric Symons said he was excited for the store opening this Thursday.
He agreed that the closure of Sam’s Warehouse affected the central shopping area, adding that shops near McCrae Street and Beveridge Street became the worst off.
“You could easily tell by the amount of car parks that became available,” he said.
For more on this story, pick up a copy of Monday’s Guardian (February 2).
