Edgeware supermarket third to be demolished

MARC GREENHILL

Last updated 05:00 13/04/2011

 

A third earthquake-damaged Christchurch supermarket is set to be demolished.

Edgeware SuperValue, an owner-operated store in the Progressive chain, was closed after being damaged in the February 22 quake.

Foodstuffs South Island's New World stores in St Martins and Redcliffs will also be demolished.

Edgeware SuperValue owner Stephen Anderson yesterday confirmed the former St Albans movie theatre would be pulled down.

A new supermarket will be built on the Edgeware Rd site.

The store's 35 employees had been made redundant.

However, Anderson hoped to find jobs for the supermarket's staff at other Progressive stores.

"I'm very disappointed to see the store close as it's a very important part of the Edgeware Village community," Anderson said.

The building, which was originally the Century Picture Theatre, had operated as a SuperValue store for the past 45 years. Demolition would begin "as soon as possible", Anderson said.

The adjacent Edgeware Mitre 10 is also closed, but is not on supermarket-owned land.

A Mitre 10 spokesman yesterday would not comment on the hardware store's future.

St Albans resident Christoph Hensch said the area was "losing history" with the demolition, but would benefit from the improved store. The closure had left a dearth of supermarkets, with only FreshChoice in Merivale nearby.

Many older people who walked to buy their groceries lived nearby, he said.

"It's just one of the many inconveniences we are experiencing right now," Hensch said.

"I think Edgeware Village will emerge strengthened because people in St Albans are very loyal to their local area," he said.

Although the village had lost its supermarket and doctors' surgery, he said conveniences like the butchery, pharmacy and PostShop remained open.