The hidden

DESPITE being located along a major highway, Junction Village shopping strip traders get no passing customers.
That’s because most people don’t even know they exist, according to Junction Village Milk bar and Bottle Shop owner Joe Khoury.
A row of shops including the milk bar and bottle shop, a butcher and hairdresser are located on a service lane off the South Gippsland Highway but are hidden from passing traffic by trees.
There is one small sign alerting people to the shops, but traders say the problem is that it is located away from the South Gippsland’s Highway so it is hard to see and doesn’t let people know what shops are there.
A joint letter signed by all the traders was tabled at the City of Casey council meeting last week by Councillor Geoff Ablett, calling on officers to investigate the prospect of getting a more visible shopping centre sign along the South Gippsland Highway to alert passing traffic.
“The suburb of Junction Village is quite isolated in itself,” said Mr Khoury, who has owned the milk bar for more than 20 years and recently opened up the bottle shop.
“We’ve got no passing trade whatsoever.
“When I started the bottle shop a few months ago, everyone in the village said it was great and I have a great customer base from locals.
“But that by itself is not good enough.
“We want better signage on the highway to attract a bit of passing trade.”
Mr Khoury said what the traders were after was a big sign in a better location that showed people what shops were there, as well as the tress cut back so people could see their businesses.
“I want to improve my business but at the same time improve business for the rest of the shopping strip,” he said.
“We are struggling here.
“It’s only a small village and we need the help of the council as they have the resources to do it.
“If they can help High Street in Cranbourne and other shopping strips in Casey, then they can help us.
“We are a part of this council too.”
Cr Ablett said he agreed with the shop owners.
“The sign that is currently there is not prominent enough and doesn’t tell people enough,” he said.
“If people know they are there, then those driving by might stop in.
“They just need a little more exposure.”
A report on the matter will come back to a council meeting by the end of February.