Michaela Meade
One year after opening its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, Riverdale Village Shopping Centre in Tarneit has finally been able to hold a celebration day to welcome its retailers to the community.
Residents in attendance marked the achievement of the centre surviving COVID-19 by taking part in giveaways, Bollywood-inspired performances, a sausage sizzle, and face-painting.
Members of Wyndham council and the CFA also attended the festivities.
Fitzroys shopping centre manager Simone Talarico had overseen the construction of the centre, as well as its opening in March 2020 and subsequent struggle through the pandemic.
“It was fantastic to finally be able to officially welcome the retailers to the community, and
celebrate the amazing support they have had from local residents,” Ms Talarico said.
“We had a grand opening planned back in mid-2020, but obviously had to postpone that due
to COVID.
“It’s been a rough ride for the tenants on-site with their first year of uncertainty.”
Ms Talarico said it was an “intensive journey” to keeping the brand new facilities and tenants operational last year, as well as maintaining the new job opportunities for the community generated by the centre.
“We have a focus on the centre being a community hub. Everything we did stemmed from
that position,” she said.
“The ability of the centre and the retailers to open, trade and thrive throughout [COVID-19]
has caught the attention of traders and we’ve had ongoing wide interest from a leasing
perspective.
“There are more openings coming soon.
“We are committed to getting the right retail mix for long-term optimal centre performance.
“Local operators continue to show they are keen to be at the heart of the western suburbs
growth story.”
