|
Almost as fast as a
speeding bullet, Kokkini Hani seems to be the hottest location of choice for
major super market outlets.
Not that there has
been any shortage of the smaller varieties, which, a recent survey showed,
there are some 14 within the village – ranging from miniscule mini markets
to the King of Kokkini markets, Cosmos.
Now, The
Khronicles has learned through a reliable source that Halkiathakis, the
major super market chain with 31 stores throughout Crete, including a
hyper-market in Nea Aliikarnassos and a large double-level store in
Hersonissos, has completed plans to build a 1,000 square-meter store on
Kokkini's main road.
While several phone
calls by this reporter to Christina Halkiathaki, one of the chain's top
officials, were not returned, a public relations spokesman for the company
told us: "Perhaps I cannot comment on it because it has not been confirmed."
However,
according to the unnamed source, Halkiathakis has
already signed a 15-year lease for the vacant property directly across the
road from two existing super markets, Kypseli and Festos, in the center of
the village, both of which have been in the area for many years. In
addition, the giant food retailer is said to be negotiating for an adjacent
piece of land to be used as a parking area.
And, just prior to
this late-breaking development, this newspaper had learned that several
other sites within the village were also being considered for development by
major super markets. Some of the other corporate names rumoured to be
interested in opening shops in this area are
Marinopoulos and Dia.
Meanwhile, owners of
Kokkini Hani's existing super markets did not appear overly concerned when
told of Halkiathakis' invasion of their home turf.
|
Reported
site of Halkiathakis Super Market in Kokkini Hani
Yiannis
Fragiathakis, owner of the big Cosmos Super Market, located about 100 meters
from the proposed site of the new store, said he had heard the news just a
few days before.
"Look, they're business people (Halkiathakis) just like me," Mr.
Fragiathakis said. "If they think they can make a good business here, I wish
them luck. I may even look forward to the competition."
Antonis
Lamprakis,
owner of Kypseli, said he was unaware of the proposed new
Halkiathakis super market.
"But, if it does happen, it will affect
all the local markets." he said, "especially Cosmos due to its size."
The owner of one of Kokkini Hani's
oldest super markets, Dionisos, hadn't heard about the Halkiathakis project
either, but thinks the last thing this area needs is another market –
especially a large one.
"People think that because a store is big, the prices are
cheaper," said Dionisos' owner, Popi Magaraki. "But they are wrong. Besides,
the Demos should support the small business owners and stop these things
from being built."
|
