The Flemings Food Stores name will be consigned to history when the Jannali outlet - the last in a chain of 65 - closes on May 19.
The business will move a few doors up Box Road and reopen next morning as a Woolworths Metro store, catering for rail commuters as well as residents.
Woolworths owns both sites, as well as the properties in between, and is looking at the possibility of a major development that would include the council-owned car park at the rear.
The company says preliminary concepts have been presented to Sutherland Shire Council for a future development, but discussions are still at an early stage.
The Flemings chain of grocery stores was acquired by Woolworths on September 26, 1960 from the Flemings family.
The Jannali store was part of the original acquisition of 65 stores and is still in the same building on the same site.
It is the last store in the Woolworths Group in NSW that still has, and uses, a conveyor belt to move stock from the stockroom and loading dock to the trading floor.
When the Jannali store closes, the Flemings signage and branding will be relocated to the Woolworths Heritage Centre.
Lenore Blakeley, who has been shopping at Flemings for 50 years since she and her husband moved to Oyster Bay after their marriage, said she had always liked the store.
"It has always had everything I need and I like the personal touch - the girls on the registers are friendly and efficient," she said.
Ms Blakeley said the new Metro store sounded like it would be good, but she would not like to see a big development.
"I like Jannali the way it is," she said. "In big supermarkets, you know no one."
Shop assistant Jenny Farley said she was "very excited" about moving to the Metro store, which will not only be modern but will also have a bigger range of products.
"I worked in the IGA supermarket, which was where the Metro store is located, for 15 years and when it closed three years ago I moved to Flemings," she said.
Woolworths Metro general manager Justin Nolan said, "While it is sad to say goodbye to the last Flemings store in our network, we are excited about the opportunity to bring a new Metro store to Jannali".
"Continuing with the same great service local customers know so well, the much loved team will relocate to the new Metro store from May 20.
"With a focus on quality fresh and healthy options at affordable prices, we will offer customers a contemporary range of food they can either eat now, on the go, or later.
"For local customers wanting to pick up a barista made coffee on their way to the train station, lunch on the go, or a tasty meal solution for dinner that night, Woolworths Metro Jannali is designed to meet all those needs.
"We look forward to welcoming customers."
Woolworths Metro Jannali will offer:
- Fresh food focus with a full range of fruit, vegetables, meat and bakery options, with bakery and hot food (including roast chicken) prepared on-site,
- Fresh on the go breakfast and lunch options including barista made coffee, juices and sandwich options,
- Macro wholefoods destination with a range of health foods available,
- Fresh sandwiches and salads.
The neighbouring BWS store will remain in its present.
