FREE cups of coffee will be offered to shoppers when the Bridgetown IGA store reopens at 8am tomorrow.

The owners’ representative Maurice Owen is keen to meet as many residents as possible and introduce them to the new manager, local resident Adam Holmes.

The range of goods at the newly reopened IGA store would be considerably wider than before and there would be more to come, over coming months, Mr Owen said.

“The store will be open 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, and we are looking at the possibility of opening on some Sundays, but that will be down the track a little,” he said.

“We have been pleased to be able to re-employ many of the former staff and we have had a lot of positive feedback from both former staff and the general public, many of which have been popping in to see what is going on as we clean up, repaint and put the shop back together.

“In the last two weeks, we have managed to repaint the store totally, both inside and out, using local tradesmen, and we have had the rear car-park area levelled in preparation for tarmac sealing, which is scheduled for next month.

“For the opening, we have put together some very exciting specials at very special prices, in addition, all of the specials shown in the catalogue will be available in the Bridgetown store, and they will be at the city prices,” Mr Owen said,

“We are now looking forward to tomorrow when we can welcome people back into the store.”

Mr Owens said the new manager Adam Holmes and his wife Pamela had been living in Bridgetown since the start of the year and Adam had considerable retail experience.

“He has worked for a number of years in senior positions in Perth supermarkets and is really pleased to be able to use his skills in his new hometown, “ Mr Owens added.

Mr Holmes, 26, said he started his retail career in 2000 just after high school, progressing through three retail stores gaining managerial experience.

He completed certificate studies in retail operations and retail supervision.

“I was at Ellenbrooke IGA for 6½ years, Wellington Village IGA in Morley then Super IGA in High Wycombe,” he said. “I do enjoy working in the country areas and I have enjoyed living in Bridgetown since we arrived in January.”

He hoped the IGA re-opening would strengthen trade in the town again because “where possible I believe IGA will be using local produce including fruit, vegies and meats. It’s good to try and use local providers so that both suppliers and IGA can grow together”.