WHAT for years seemed like a pipedream will become reality on Thursday.
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The official opening o the new JB Hi-Fi Home store in Orana Mall will take place at 8.45am, and from 9am customers will be able to flock through the doors.
The facility will sell the electronics that the brand has been known for over many years, but will also branch into whitegoods.
It will be the first of its kind in regional NSW.
Orana Mall is owned by Bachrach Naumburger Group, and the company’s general manager Steve Gooley said the opening of the new store is exciting for not only Dubbo, but the whole region.
“This store is one that will service the entire central west, and they will deliver out as far as Lightning Ridge and places like that,” Mr Gooley said.
“It’s only been a few months since we announced JB was coming to Dubbo, but in reality its something we’ve been trying to make happen for four or five years.”
JB Hi-Fi Home will fill the site formerly occupied by Bernardi’s IGA in the eastern end of the mall.
The large volume of floor space in the site is what appealed to the company, and the franchise’s arrival signals another exciting milestone for the mall.
“That site had been the home to five supermarkets over the course of its life, so transforming it to a retail site for JB Hi-Fi had its little challenges on the way but we overcame them and it’s happening,” Mr Gooley said.
“JB is excited about coming to the Dubbo market and we’re extremely confident it will be a success.
“What we find is that sometimes it can be a lengthy process to get some of these major franchises to Dubbo but once they get here the support is great and they are well supported.”
The official opening of JB Hi-Fi will be the start of a big couple of days for Orana Mall, with a Mad Mex food outlet due to open the following day. It will be located next to Coffee Club in the redeveloped section of the mall.
There are also some other businesses looking to open in the near future.
“We’ve got Shaver Shop coming to the mall, and they are a really fast-growing business you see at a lot of malls, and we’re in negotiations to have another retailer in the site next to JB Hi-Fi Home shortly as well,” Mr Gooley said.
“It’s a really exciting time for us because we’re bringing a diverse range of businesses to the city. In the space of two days we have a major electricals store and a Mexican food restaurant, and that’s on top of others we’ve had come on board as part of our redevelopment.
“It’s all about having a wide range of retailers to help grow Dubbo and the wider region.”