Anticipation has been building since the Makools announced earlier this year that they were planning to open a new location for Oasis, their much-loved family-run Middle Eastern grocer.
The first opened in Murrumbeena nearly 25 years ago, followed by a second in Fairfield in 2018. But a third has recently landed in Mornington.
“We had a small pop-up cafe in the Mornington area and there was a really positive reception to that,” says general manager Ely Makool. “We always wanted to do a big, proper store there, so when the opportunity came up last year, we thought we’d take it.”
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Find out moreLocated in a former Target, the nearly-700-square-metre store is Oasis’s largest to date. There’s no cafe, like you’ll find at the other locations, but there are more than 8000 grocery items to choose from – including bulk dry goods, fresh produce and deli meats, plus an expanded range of the brand’s baked goods, condiments, spices and ready-to-eat meals.
“A major expansion of our production facility [has] happened simultaneously,” says Makool. Pre-packaged tubs of tabouli and hummus, mini za’atar pizzas and family-sized country chicken pies (a collaboration between Oasis and Wonder Pies) are just a few examples of what you’ll find in-store. There’s also a new line of plant-based dips and spreads launching in the next few weeks.
“It’s a different experience to what people are used to – and what’s out there through the majors like Coles, Woolies or Aldi,” says Makool. “We’ve always done things a little bit differently and I think customers appreciate that.”
Oasis Mornington
Shop 30, 78 Barkly Street, Mornington
(03) 9026 1300
Hours:
Mon to Thu 8am–8pm
Fri & Sat 8am–9pm
Sun 8am–8pm
