A new $1.5 million Quality Supermarket store is set to open in the Seagrapes Shopping Center next month.
Rupert Roberts, the owner of Super Value, told Guardian Business that next month's opening will create the third store under the Quality Supermarket banner, representing a total investment of around $4.5 million.
Its opening should create dozens of new jobs.
The well-known businessman acquired three former City Markets locations in Cable Beach, South Beach and Seagrapes after that supermarket chain hit the final chopping block in April, putting hundreds of Bahamians out of work.
"Our third store in the Seagrapes Shopping Center will open up within the next month or so. We opened the second location in South Beach back in December. Cable Beach was the first location that we opened. Overall, we took over three of those stores, investing approximately $1.5 million in each," he explained.
In December, Roberts noted that all of the equipment for the Seagrapes store was in place, but there was still plenty of work to be done before it can start servicing customers. The owner of Super Value expressed pride in his dedicated staff for fighting through adversity to get these stores open.
As for the first Quality Supermarket location in Cable Beach, Roberts pointed out how it's already turning a profit. But he admitted that it might take time before the other two locations enter the black.
"We've been getting a lot of tourists at the Cable Beach location. It's even better for us during the winter months. On a Sunday morning, business at Cable Beach's Quality Market is just about as good as it is here in Golden Gates.
"As the economy improves, all of the old City Market businesses will come back because 60 percent of all businesses are done in locational convenience.
"Cable Beach turned a profit immediately. I think the other two will be breaking even and turning a profit next year."
The Super Value chief maintains he is not concerned that the newest Quality Supermarket location is so close to Super Value's Winton store because "there's enough business in the east to support both."
"I don't think that's going to be a problem because the stores will be run a little differently, with more specialty food in one of them. So there will come difference," he shared. "In fact, when the economy was up, both City Markets and Super Value locations were thriving."

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian