Orange is targeting Target and wants to eat at Oporto.
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Shoppers have identified Target as their number one choice for the store that they want to come to Orange and Oporto as their sought-after food store.
Around 6280 people voted in an poll conducted this week at www.centralwesterndaily.com.au
Target polled 14.32 per cent of the votes ahead of JB Hi-Fi (12.46 per cent) and self-assemble furniture kings Ikea (11.04 per cent), with Oporto in fourth place (6.84).
The result comes as Orange is losing its largest retailer, with Myer closing down its Summer Street department store on Sunday.
It scored 303 votes from people keen to see it stay.
Harris Scarfe has announced it will become the major retailer after the Myer site is totally revamped over the next 18 months.
A spokeswoman for Harris Scarfe said it would open in Orange in August 2018.
And Oporto has revealed it wants to open a store in Orange.
It is looking for a local franchisee to open either a main street shop or a stand-alone drive-through store.
National Franchise Manager Gary Glen said the Central Western Daily poll result was pleasing.
“We are thrilled to hear that the people of Orange would like to have an Oporto in town,” he said.
“We would love to bring our flame grilled Portugese chicken to the area.
“To make this happen we need to find the right location and team that up with the right local owner operator.
“No one does it better than a local.”
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Orange City Centre manager Nicole Chapman said there was room for around 12-15 retailers in the new complex and the final number would depend on how much space each retailer required.
She said only Harris Scarfe had been confirmed so far for the site, which will include an eatery precinct with outdoor access.
“Obviously from the plans we are looking to attract food retailers for Post Office Lane,” she said.
Target was linked to opening a store at a site outside Summer Street in Orange a couple of years ago but that did not go ahead.
A spokeswoman said the retailer was constantly looking for new store sites.
“We’re passionate about expanding our presence to more communities across the country.
“At this stage, there are no immediate plans to open a Target store in Orange, however we’re always looking for new retail locations.
“We’re committed to making high-quality and affordable products more accessible to Australians far and wide.”
JB Hi-Fi was also non-commital about a new store in Orange, however a spokeswoman said they were open to offers.
“JB have no immediate plans to open a store in Orange.
“However, [we] remain in touch with landlords in both this and other regional centres in NSW,” she said.
“We treat each proposal by a landlord on its individual merits,” she said.
“When considering a site we look at a number of influencing factors including the competitive landscape of the market, the population catchments, the current and anticipated employment trends and the financial components of the site being offered,” she said.
The Myer Orange store will close after the final transaction takes place just before 3pm on Sunday.
A few managers will remain for around two weeks to clear the site.
Any remaining stock, and fittings, will be sent to the Dubbo and Frankston stores.
The building will be boarded up and become a construction zone, with the conversion into a multiple-store complex due to be completed by June 2018.
Orange City Centre marketing manager Jessica Cunningham said the entrance to Myer from the city centre would be covered with a hoarding to display artwork by local school children as part of the ‘Our Orange, Our Schools’ art project.
She said that each month from February a different school would create a piece of art on a five metre x 2.5 metre banner.
Orange Public School will go first in the competition that has a $1000 major prize for the winning school.
The Summer Street site has been the retail hub of Orange since Dalton Brothers erected two large buildings on site in the 1860s and 1870s.
The space between them was covered over in 1895.
Western Stores and Edgleys took over the site in 1928 before a merger saw it become a subsidiary of Myer in 1961.
SURVEY SAYS: THE STORES YOU WANT
- Target: 900 votes, representing 14.32 per cent of all votes cast
- JB Hi-Fi: 783, 12.46%
- Ikea: 694, 11.03%
- Oporto: 430, 6.89%
- Good Guys: 357, 5.68%
- Rebel Sport: 328, 5.17%
- David Jones: 317, 5.04%
- Myer: 303, 4.81%
- Fantastic Furniture: 286, 4.54%
- Forever New: 246, 3.9%
- Nandos: 241, 3.85%
- Freedom: 241, 3.82%
- Smiggle: 185, 2.96%
- Mimco: 155, 2.48%
- Cue: 151, 2.42%
- Harry's Cafe De Wheels: 129, 2.06%
- Portmans: 121, 1.92%
- Diana Ferrari: 86, 1.37%
- Nine West: 80, 1.27%
- Honey Birdette: 59, .95%
- Ed Harry: 50, .81%
Voter suggestions include: Sephora, Costco, Starbucks, The Body Shop, Adidas, Cotton On, Country Road, Barbeques Galore, Toys R Us, Dotti.
Results at 1pm Friday.