A regional town's fast-growing retail precinct could have four new shops as soon as next month.
A new development behind Legana Woolworths is set to be handed over to its inaugural tenants on July 15 after a year-long building process.
Developer Andrew Bendel said the first openings were anticipated from July 21, and would follow the recent arrival of Discovery Early Learning Centre next door.
WHO'S COMING FOR DINNER?
The new complex will feature two restaurants, a barber and a beauty salon.
Emina's, which will be run by farmer and chef couple Emina and Rodney Maslovsky, will offer French and European cuisine from an open-plan kitchen.
The restaurant will do one sitting a day to begin, and expand to breakfast, lunch and dinner, Wednesday to Sundays, sometime between spring and summer.
Mr Maslovsky said the business would rely solely on local produce, and had already had strong interest from chefs living in the West Tamar.
"Everyone's been saying the West Tamar needs a nice proper sit-down restaurant - everyone's excited," he said.
Next door will be Asaria Beauty and Nails, offering eyelash services, head spas, and potentially waxing.
Owner Tommy Tran said Legana would be home to the second Asaria, following the original St John Street salon and another scheduled to open from Paterson Street in August.
"When I moved to Tasmania I saw there was a lot of opportunity here," he said.
"I think it'll be amazing to have a shop there [in Legana] and provide a service for all the local customers.
"There's a lot of local customers from that end going to the city and looking for somewhere to relax - a foot spa, head spa ... that's why we decided to hang round and open one there."
The third tenancy will be filled by Legana Barbershop.
Shanley Dao, who lives in Riverside with his wife and five-month-old and their family, worked in Launceston for five years before setting up his own shop.
"This year I have two big things - baby and the shop," he said.
A specialised barbershop chair - in the shape of a race car - looms as a surefire hit with younger clients.
"[It's an] attractive toy for the kids here - nearby we have the primary school, kindergarten and kids will like that. Maybe they don't care about the haircut much, but hopefully the car [will be an attraction]," he said.
"I'm excited to become a part of the Legana community here and I'm creating a comfortable, friendly shop."
The northernmost tenancy will be filled by Indian chain Tassie Dhaba's fourth store.
Roop and SP Singh have established set-ups in Beaconsfield and Launceston, and have recently converted Port Sorell's former fish and chip shop into another Tassie Dhaba to much success.
"It was crazy busy, we sold out everything the first two weeks, eight to 10 people were working in there ... so now we're hoping to get the same response in Legana as well," Roop Singh said.
"We're thinking if we manage four, the next one will be Campbell Town and Hobart, so we have [outlets] all over Tasmania."
HIVE OF ACTIVITY
There's plenty more action still to come in Legana once the new shops open.
Work has already begun on a three-shop development at 9 Tatana Way, just across from the tyre shop.
Those three tenancies will be filled by Harcourts, Tamar Chiro and Salvos, who are relocating into a much larger store.
Mr Bendel is hoping that project will be completed by Easter.
"The [existing] Salvos will be repurposed into three tenancies once Salvos vacate, and we've got one pre-commitment already," he said.
July 2027 should bring about an improved carpark at the Legana Woolworths complex, flattening out the site's 1 in 40 gradient.
Later, the relocation of the Woolworths loading dock will open up space for more retail redevelopment at the front of the complex.
There's also good news for those who have been waiting on Commonwealth Games athlete Linda Allen's new QuickFit gym near the childcare centre.
The project has obtained development application approval, and will now move towards documentation, tenders and building permits.
Mr Bendel said he hoped the gym build would be completed sometime after July 2027.