The Woolworths Central store underwent what was believed to be a multi-million dollar revamp in 2019, but pleas for the toilets to be upgraded have fallen on deaf ears, say business owners.

At the time Woolworths Warrnambool Central manager Norm Whiting said the renewal marked "the next evolution of our journey to create neighbourhood food stores for our Victorian customers".

He said the store played an important role and the work demonstrated its ongoing commitment and investment to the Warrnambool community.

Piccolo Coffee Roasters co-owner Olivia Darcy said they had numerous customers each day asking them where the closest public toilets are. "The toilets are usually closed," Mrs Darcy said.

"If they're open they're disgusting and people won't use them. "They need to be brought up to scratch."

Mrs Darcy said the small cafe did not have public toilets, but a facility the size of the plaza should have suitable facilities.

"It's not nice that we have elderly people who shop here or mothers with young kids who can't access public toilets," she said.

Another business owner said he had raised the issue on a number of occasions.

The Standard spoke to a number of people who said they had exited the plaza before they had completed their shopping to access public toilets elsewhere in the city.

In March 2019, store manager Norm Whiting said the store revamp marked "the next evolution of our journey to create neighbourhood food stores for our Victorian customers".

A Woolworths spokeswoman said given the toilets were in a remote section of the shopping centre the area cannot always be supervised.

"To ensure the public facilities are kept clean and maintained we keep the rooms locked and hold a key at our service desk for customers," she said.

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