Above: Stores are gradually opening at the new Noble Plaza complex in Douglas Street.By Shaun Inguanzo
STORES are beginning to open in Noble Park’s newest shopping strip.
Noble Plaza along Douglas Street, just a short walk from the train station, is complete and most of its shops are in the process of being fitted out.
Star visited the shopping centre to speak with traders but could only find one store open – Siem Reap’s Grocery, an Asian food store.
Owner Sang Leng Keath, 45, said he and his wife had worked in Springvale before deciding to move to Noble Park and open their own Asian grocery store.
“There are a lot of people here who don’t want to spend a lot of money going to Springvale (to shop),” Mr Keath said.
“There are parking issues there but here there is parking upstairs and it is 20 cents for two hours.”
Mr Keath said his business had been open for one month and he was eagerly awaiting the opening of other shops in the plaza to provide a boost to people traffic, and ultimately trade.
“Give it a few more weeks and maybe it will be okay,” he said.
A café next to Mr Keath was closed, and a new TAB store was open for business. A DVD and video game store appears as though it is also set to open.
The plaza’s opening comes as traders in Noble Park urge shoppers to return to the township now that police have cleared its streets of crime and other anti-social behaviour.
