Woodford storeowners are divided over the future prospects for their businesses in the face of the threat from a major retail outlet coming to the town.

A new shopping centre at George Street, anchored by a Woolworths supermarket and located in walking distance of existing independent traders, is scheduled to open in April.

Elvis Parsley’s Grapelands owner Nick Comino said he didn’t hold any animosity towards the major retailer, which will set up shop around the corner from his own fruit and vegetables store.

“I can see this place (Woodford) going ahead and I can’t cater for everything and really they will need big shops here,” he said. “When the new houses are built and the families are in there they’ll need it (more shops) then, but who knows if Woodford’s currently ready for it.

“As it gets more populated they’re going to need more shops, but there’s going to be a short period where it’s going to be tough (for existing businesses).”

Mr Comino, who has run his Elvis Presley-themed store for 25 years, said he was banking on customer loyalty and a revised business strategy to survive.

“Customers are loyal and I hope they’ll come back to see me, and there’s something special that I bring with the Elvis Parsley idea,” he said.

While Woolworths is known to target areas with a catchment of around 10,000 people, Woodford has around half that number of residents.

Newsagency owner Andrew Clews said given the town’s small population and the current economic pressures on small retailers, he believes the new shopping centre could struggle to find tenants.

“I still can’t believe Woolworths is opening in Woodford at this point in time with the population we’ve got … maybe they know something about the place we don’t,” Mr Clews said.

“Woodford doesn’t have the population to support both a Woolworths and the IGA. Would you open a new business in the (financial) climate we’ve got going?”

One business owner, who did not wished to be named, was resigned to losing business when Woolworths opens.

“They (major retailers) always come to town before they’re due,” he said. “What can you do about it? Nothing.”

While some residents in Maleny and Samford vehemently opposed plans for a major supermarket chain in their town, Mr Comino was surprised a similar uproar didn’t emanate from Woodford.

“I thought there would be more resistance but I haven’t heard much at all,” Mr Comino said.

“I was only thinking about it today and maybe it’s better affordability and price range that’s behind it (the lack of protest from residents).”

However, Luke’s IGA Woodford supermarket owner Mal Luke, whose store opened in 2007 and has around 85 staff, said he had been buoyed by support from the community.

“No doubt it (Woolworths’ arrival) has been on our mind as our store will be half the size of their store, so it will have an affect on business,” Mr Luke said.

“We’ve been given support and had people come up to us and say ‘I like the way IGA has battled against Woolworths in Maleny’.

“Woolworths and Coles are dominant forces but not everybody wants to shop at Woolworths or Coles – and we’ll be looking forward to the continued support of locals.”

Mr Clews said at a public meeting about the proposed Woolworths development two years ago, around two-thirds of people present indicated they were against the plan.