Grand first birthday for complex

By Kelly Yates
MORE than 1500 people headed to the Narre Warren North Village Centre last Saturday to help the shopping complex celebrate its first birthday.
Owner Marco Ciavarella said he was pleased with the turn-out at the community event, which ran from 10am to 3pm.
Visitors were treated to a spit roast on the day, with Mr Ciavarella saying the food was a big attraction.
“We went through 150kg of beef,” he said.
Some of the activities on the day included amusement rides, pony rides, face painting and a hot rod car display.
The local CFA also set up at the event.
People gathered to sing happy birthday and enjoy birthday cake at 3pm.
“I wanted to create a local community get together and we achieved that,” he said.
A year after opening its doors, Mr Ciavarella said he believed the shopping complex had competitive prices.
Mr Ciavarella and his wife Annette previously owned the general store, which was adjacent to the new precinct, for 10 years.
“It’s been a tough 12 months as a result of the economy,” he said.
“But there was a need for the development in Narre Warren North because of the continual growth in the area.”
The Narre Warren North Village Centre has a Marco’s IGA supermarket plus liquor, newsagency, post office, bakery and café.