The North Road Shopping Centre in Albany has been sold to Western Australian potato magnate Tony Galati, marking the end of an era for the long-standing IGA anchor tenant and paving the way for a new Spudshed supermarket.
Sale Confirmed by Former Owner
Russell Poliwka, who owned the shopping centre for three decades, confirmed the sale to the Advertiser on Tuesday. “My understanding of the current situation is that the IGA shop will be moving out and Mr Galati’s Spudshed will be established in there, which for Albany will be an absolute bonus,” he said. Poliwka praised Galati as “one of the best operators in the State,” noting his hands-on approach and vertically integrated supply chain.
IGA Closure and Renovations
The North Road Fine Food Market IGA closed on Monday after a month-long clearance sale, with most shelves bare except for a few discounted items. The store had been selling all stock except cigarettes at a 40 percent discount to prepare for the end-of-financial-year closure. Renovations are now underway to convert the space into a Spudshed outlet.
Other Tenants Affected
Several other businesses within the complex have also closed, including dress store Chloe’s on North and Zhivago Cafe, both shutting in the past month. The newsagency Front Page News remains open but has been largely emptied of inventory. Still operating are the Bottle-O, Natural Image Hair and Beauty Salon, Mister Money, the Little Asian Grocery, North Road Financial Services, and Prestige Real Estate. Chloe’s on North posted a farewell on Facebook on June 19, stating: “They say all good things must come to an end, and after 20 years of CON and our predecessor retail outlets, the time has come for us to close our doors.”
Spudshed Expansion
Tony Galati first floated plans for an Albany Spudshed in 2018 and officially confirmed the location in December last year. The chain is known for its extended hours, with 15 of its 19 stores open 24-7. The Albany branch will be the 20th Spudshed when it opens. Poliwka noted that the sale price, while not his initial asking price, was a “win-win” that would allow Galati to invest capital into upgrading the complex. “It won’t happen overnight; it’ll take a couple of months to bed himself down, get his shop operating, and I think he might expand the area as well of the actual supermarket, which again will engender more variety, more options,” he said.
Impact on Albany
Poliwka expressed confidence that the new Spudshed would benefit the city by generating foot traffic for other tenants and providing a reliable anchor business. “It’s an old sort of complex, so his intervention at this time, I think, is exceptionally valuable for the town and everybody else associated,” he added.
