Locals protest against new IGA at Dee Why Beach
Supermarket giant IGA is opening a new Dee Why Beach store, at the site previously held by The Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant, but some local residents claim it will destroy the casual feel of the restaurant strip.
Northern Beaches Council has approved the application from Jimmy Aschner and wife, Monique, who used to own Asch’s IGA Xpress on Pittwater Road, Collaroy for five years, to change the use of the site from a restaurant to a supermarket.
However, some locals argue it doesn’t fit with the strip’s ‘beach vibe’.
Mohamed Ali, who owns the convenience store on The Strand says, “It’s not a good idea for a beautiful beach like Dee Why to have IGA. In such a beautiful area in the middle of such nice restaurants, it’s going to kill more businesses in the area.”
Local mum-of-two Lisa Holsworth agreed, saying, “There are so many supermarkets and minimarts here already that are easy to get to, there’s no need for another.
“We already have a convenience store, a mini supermarket is totally going to ruin the beach vibe of Dee Why.”
The Austrian Beer Bar Restaurant, opposite the beach, closed earlier this year after a difficult trading period caused by COVID lockdowns, staff issues, difficulty sourcing overseas beers and the rising cost of food.
The cost of the works for the new IGA has been revealed as $256,000 and it is due to open this month, with Mr Aschner, who also owns own the McMahons Point Grocer and the Coogee-Randwick Grocer, confirming, “Dee Why Beach will have a high-quality, fresh food, local grocer they can call their own.
“It took a while to get over the line, but we got there in the end.”