Premix King Ararat manager Steve Larkin said he hoped to have the store open within the next two weeks.

Job advertisements have already been posted for new staff members.

“We’re looking for staff at Ararat and predominately at Stawell, obviously, because it will be a new store,” he said.

The new store is set to open in the former YMCA building, which has been repainted.

The Premix King franchise bills itself as the ‘Home of the Alcopop’ and promotes its business with low prices.

Some in the region have taken to social media to voice their opposition to establishing a new alcohol retailer in Stawell.

One person he believed the proposed store location was too close to the Grampians Community Health alcohol counselling office.

The Premix King franchise website stated that the company was committed to support alcohol regulation. 

“We at the Premix King take the Responsible Service of Alcohol very seriously,” the website stated.

Stawell already has multiple supermarkets, pubs and stores that sell packaged alcohol.