The Coles Manly Corso, one of Manly’s most recognisable retail sites, is up for sale for the first time in nearly 40 years. Sitting right on the pedestrian strip that thousands of locals and visitors walk every day, the supermarket and adjoining shops have been a quiet fixture in the community, and now, its future could be shaped by new ownership.
A Property With Long-standing Ties To Manly
Located at 8–28 The Corso and just 200 metres from Manly Wharf, the site includes a Coles supermarket, NAB branch and a Commonwealth tenancy, which together bring in about 95 per cent of its rental income.
Coles is locked into a 10-year lease with options through to 2042, and a rent review is scheduled for July 2025. The fully leased site spans 2,464 square metres and includes basement parking for eight cars.
Sale Opens Up Rare Opportunity In Tightly Held Strip
Stonebridge Property Group is managing the sale via an expressions of interest campaign, closing 4pm on Thursday, 29 May. The site hasn’t changed hands in nearly 40 years, and ownership along this stretch of The Corso has stayed mostly the same.
Coles Manly Corso has become a familiar stop for locals running errands, thanks to its central location near the ferry and steady weekend foot traffic along the pedestrian strip.
Part Of A High-traffic, High-spend Area
Manly remains one of Sydney’s busiest beachside centres, drawing more than 1.8 million visitors each year. According to retail market data used in the sale, the local area sees spending levels more than 50 per cent higher than the wider Sydney average.
Even so, the commercial strip keeps a distinctly local feel. Shops along The Corso cater to everyday needs just as much as tourists. From morning coffee queues to supermarket runs, it’s the kind of place where routine meets tourism. That makes this sale both a business event and a change in the backdrop of daily life for many locals.
Locals Keep Watch As Campaign Begins
Though it’s a commercial sale, many locals are paying attention, not just to who buys the site, but whether its use might shift. With Coles locked into a long-term lease, major changes aren’t expected right away, but the idea of new ownership has stirred interest.
After decades of steady service to workers, families and retirees, the sale marks a subtle but significant moment in a part of Manly that rarely changes.
Published 30-April-2025
