Boutique Milson's Point supermarket set for auction

A recently opened boutique grocer in Sydney’s Milsons Point has been listed with $5.5 million hopes.

The property at 88 Alfred Street is run by QE Foodstores and is the group’s ninth offering, with other stores in Balmain, Camperdown, Darlinghurst, Newtown, Randwick, Waterloo and Waverley.

It is set to go under the hammer in early November.

Interest is expected from local, interstate and offshore investors, said Savills Australia’s David Hickey, Tom Tuxworth and Nick Tuxworth.

“The new 10-year lease with two five-year options to renew and strong annual increases will attract buyers from local, national and international markets looking for secure, super-prime investments in the sub-$10 million category,” Hickey said.

“Throughout 2018, we have seen a weight of capital chasing retail properties in prime locations, particularly in highly populated and affluent inner-urban and suburban areas.

“Investors are certainly looking for quality over quantity in the current market, and 88 Alfred Street fits that category.” 

He said QE Foodstores owners had recognised a gap in the Lower North Shore retail market for a boutique grocery store.

“QE Foodstores took a strategic view on the local Milsons Point, Kirribilli, McMahons Point and Blues Point precinct when they noticed the community had been starved of a quality supermarket for a very long period of time,” Mr Hickey said.

“The business decided to venture to Sydney’s North Shore and open its ninth grocery store to cater to this pent-up demand for fresh, quality and artisan produce.

“At 88 Alfred Street, the store benefits from being situated in Sydney’s second most-liveable suburb, only a 10-minute walk from the Sydney CBD and North Sydney.

“These shoppers demand personalisation, special services and quality products, which is what QE Foodstores has strived to deliver since opening its first store 16 years ago,” he said.

“The owners’ goal is to keep growing and provide a great range of products and services to many more Sydney neighbourhoods.

“They are constantly on the lookout for new sites in the inner city and east, and they’re now very seriously considering additional sites on the Lower North Shore.”