An artist's impression of the new Casey Market Town to be developed.
Casey, Canberra's latest pop-up suburb, is well on the way to getting a town market of its own following a sod turning ceremony conducted by newly-anointed ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Friday.
Mr Barr, the then treasurer, shared the honours with then chief minister Katie Gallagher in October 2012 at the launch of development work on the subdivision.
More than 200 homes have since been built and most have already found owners and tenants.
Casey Market Town, a retail development modelled on Queensland's James Street Markets, will be home to two supermarkets, more than 29 specialty shops, a gymnasium and a cafe/bar.
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There will also be a pharmacy.
Almost half the 11,000 square metres of retail space will be given over to the 3600 square metre Supabarn and 1450 square metre Aldi supermarkets.
Work on Casey Market is scheduled to begin early in the new year and the design, which has been drawn up by Cox Architects, looks outward as well as inward to ensure there is a "street front" feel.
The developer, Worth Street Pty Ltd, has already built a 7Eleven service station and shop next door to the market town site.
The retail hub is to be integrated with two significant residential developments of two and three storeys.
Parking is not expected to be a problem with 400 spaces included in the development.
LJ Hooker's Mark Thomson, the leasing manager for the market town, said there had already been strong interest in the retail space.
"Market enquiry, particularly from food operators, has been particularly strong," he said.
"The developers are keen to see a solid representation of locally-owned and operated businesses to provide variety and choice."