Countdown to Kmart

The opening marks the completion of a three-year project by the company with construction of the actual store commencing at the start of the year.

Located on the ground floor of the City Link Plaza, the retailer has created more than 100 local jobs. Store manager Michael Ogley from the 450 applications they received, the company has currently hired 145 employees, 99 per cent of them Queanbeyan locals, for the new store.

Mr Ogley said this number will increase.

"We expect it to rise to about 200 employees on casual, part-time and full-time basis," Mr Ogley said. 

"When a company employs 140-200 people that benefits the local community."

Mr Ogley said Queanbeyan was a favourable market for the company because of the predicted population growth.

"We have store in Canberra at Tuggeranong and Belconnen but that's at least 30 minutes of travel, the people of Queanbeyan deserve their own store," he said. 

"We have the full range, we stock everything in this Kmart that you can get at any other Kmart.

"The store manager is hoping for a huge turn-out for the official store opening with staff working around the clock to unload and display at least 2500 pallets of stock.

"This is the first new regional store in NSW we've had in a while other stores have had refits, but this is a brand spanking new store," he said. 

"We encourage the community to come down and see the place, it's probably different to how people remember Kmart. It's an amazing store, has amazing graphics and the stock speaks for itself. It's good value for mum, dad and the family. It's everyday low prices!"

The 5187 square -metre store houses the usual departments like apparel, beauty, fishing, camping, leisure, home wares, stationary, books, entertainment, manchester and pet products. 

The store design also includes five unisex change rooms, seven registers and a total if 10 self-service check outs located at both ends of the shop.

Queanbeyan Kmart trading hours will be Monday to Saturday from 8am to midnight and Sunday 8am to 8pm.

* The official opening of the Queanbeyan Kmart store is Wednesday, November 14 at 8am, official entry will be through the doors on the Woolworths car park side. The store will celebrate with a ribbon cutting ceremony, cake, giveaways, balloon and face painters. They will also hold a family fun day on Saturday, November 17.