Rare pair of Mosman shops on the market for the first time in 60 years
One of the Mosman’s longest retail dynasties is set to come to an end with the listing of a pair of adjoining shops and apartments in the heart of the suburb’s shopping strip, on Sydney’s lower north shore.
For the past 59 years the Arena family has had a presence on Military Road, first with their grocery store and then delicatessen and cafe next door. But that will soon come to an end as the family’s three siblings are looking to move on.
The two shop fronts with two, two-bedroom apartments upstairs and basement car parking, all on one title, are tipped to fetch as much as $10 million.
Matteo Arena opened Arena’s Green Grocery in 1959, 10 years after arriving in Sydney from Sicily. And in the 1990s he established the delicatessen next door, which his son Joseph has taken over.
The delicatessen is well known for its Italian produce. Photo: Supplied
For Joseph, who was born in the flat above the family fruit shop, it is an emotional parting of the ways.
He said his earliest memories were of helping in the fruit shop, and even after gaining a business degree and working as a chartered accountant, he would work in his father’s delicatessen at weekends.
“I have always been comfortable in retail and this was a natural fit and a chance to do something that I loved,” Joseph said.
Under Joseph’s direction the deli expanded to include a café and later a full working kitchen providing classic Italian fare to customers.
“We helped to educate Mosman about good food,” Joseph said. “But there were just as many people who came in wanting to speak Italian or asking for travel advice or Italian recipes. I am still serving customers here who I used to look after as a little boy in my dad’s fruit shop.”
The living area in one of the upstairs apartments. Photo: Supplied
Selling agent Tim O’Halloran, of Richardson and Wrench North Sydney, said it was the first time in more than two decades that a pair of shops in Mosman were for sale on a single title, meaning that it would be easy for a new owner to combine them into one larger space.
“In the next 12 months one of the shops will become vacant, which will give the new owners the opportunity to establish a food emporium if they so wish,” said Mr O’Halloran, who is marketing the property with colleague Mark Smith.
“There is plenty of [basement] parking and the ground floor [with two shops combined] is 280 square metres.
“Food retailing and hospitality is incredibly strong and with the opportunity to combine the two stores, along with direct access to the council car park, there is scope to create a great food retail outlet for a highly receptive Mosman market,” Mr O’Halloran said.
In March last year famous Australian artist Ken Dome sold two shop and three apartments further along Military Road, which he had owned for nearly 30 years, for $6.1 million.
The expressions of interest campaign for the Arenas’ shops at 906-908 Military Road closes on June 29, and inspection is by appointment.
