Westfield Bondi Junction reopens for trade after horrific stabbing attack
Westfield Bondi Junction has reopened for trade, with patrons mostly quiet as they entered the doors for the first time since the deadly attacks last weekend.
NSW
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Westfield Bondi Junction has reopened for trade for the first time since a deadly stabbing claimed the lives of six people over the weekend.
Shopfronts opened at 9.30am on Friday with the shopping centre mostly silent as patrons filed in.
Security guards in new “stab-proof vests” were stationed throughout the centre and at its entrances.
The black, padded vests have ‘security’ printed on their front and back and are worn over the top of the guards’ white shirt uniform.
Mental health counsellors are also stationed around the centre.
While official trading reopened on Friday, many stores chose to remain closed, including Chanel, Industrie, Lululemon, Witchery, Cue, Zimmermann, Sass & Bide and Betty’s Burgers.
A sign on the shopfront of Country Road read: “To allow our team members time to recover, we will reopen from [Monday]”.
Cotton On opened just after noon.
Despite the sombre mood, tourists also came to visit the memorial site.
Brisbane influencers CC Cummins and Lili Pinzone walked around the centre and paid their respects to the victims.
“It’s hard to walk in ... knowing what happened, but being scared isn’t going to make anyone feel better,” Ms Cummins said.
Ms Cummins said the pair used to enjoy walking around shopping centres but the feeling had changed.
“It feels a bit weird now to be honest,” Ms Cummins said.
“This event has really changed the way we do anything, really showing that we need to be alert no matter where we go, it could be a shopping centre or anywhere.”
The reopening comes a day after the community were invited to the centre for a day of reflection to pay tribute to the victims.
Joel Cauchi, 40, sent Sydney shoppers fleeing in terror as he moved through the centre attacking people with a knife.
He killed five women and a male security guard and a police officer was forced to shoot Cauchi dead to stop the rampage.
Another 12 people, including a nine-month-old baby, were injured in the rampage.
A mountain of bouquets have been laid outside the centre, with the government confirming a permanent memorial will be erected in the months to come.
Scentre group chief executive Elliott Rusanow said some stores chose not to reopen on Friday.
“This has been a very difficult time and I want to acknowledge the hard work and tireless efforts of our Westfield Bondi and Scentre Group teams,” he said.
“They have been working through conditions which have been devastating in their minds and in all our minds.”
SDA NSW union secretary Bernie Smith urged shoppers to be mindful of staff in the wake of the attack.
“It’s going to be a pretty confronting day for many people,” he told the ABC.
“If you are in those shops sure, you should acknowledge what’s happened, but don’t re-traumatise workers by asking them what happened on that day.”
Security guards will be given stab-proof vests as they clock on for the first day of trading since the attack.
Local police also promised to boost patrols inside the shopping centre.
More to come
Originally published as Westfield Bondi Junction reopens for trade after horrific stabbing attack
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