Food court and fashion shops in Brisbane’s Myer Centre struggling
There are dire warnings the 32-year-old Myer Centre, blighted by scores of empty stores, may struggle to survive with the loss of some major brands who have not reopened after shutdowns.
QLD Business
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One of Queensland’s biggest shopping centres has been condemned as a “tired, grey and lifeless” destination that will struggle to compete against newer retail offerings in the coming years.
At least 12 shops lie empty at the 32-year-old Myer Centre, including four eateries in the basement food court, as traders fight to survive falling foot traffic exacerbated by the coronavirus shutdown of the CBD.
Big name brands including Best&Less, General Pants and Red Rooster have closed their outlets in the centre as the months-long shut-down of major offices in the central business district along with lack of tourists slashed the number of customers.
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QUT retail expert Dr Gary Mortimer said the centre’s problems predated the coronavirus pandemic and the opening of fresh retail offerings in the nearby Queen’s Wharf project in coming years may be the “final nail in its coffin.”
“There will be a reason to go to Queen’s Wharf because it will have bars and restaurants,” said Dr Mortimer.
“This will put a lot of pressure on the nearby Myer Centre which is looking tired, grey and lifeless.”
Dr Mortimer said there had been a lack of investment in the centre over the years, which opened in 1988 just before Expo 88 in Brisbane.
“You have to be able to renew what you are offering consumers,” he said. “The lower end of Queen St including Queen‘s Plaza is performing well but the top end is struggling and that will only be exacerbated with the opening of Queen’s Wharf in a couple of years.”
He said the centre’s problems stemmed partly from its design that funnelled customers up and down a series of escalators.
“That sort of a design can be a challenge for customers,” he said.
Traders in the centre have told The Courier-Mail that business remains slow as the pandemic shutdown continues to bite.
My Size fashion manager Tanya Denning said the ladies fashion boutique was closed during the peak of the pandemic and had only reopened in May.
Ms Denning said the shop had returned to six-day trading but all five staff had to go onto JobKeeper as revenue slumped.
“Custom is still down,” said Ms Denning. “A lot of our customers are aged 40 plus or retired, but we also have a lot of tourism and office workers.”
Politix manager Pejman Gholami said his men’s wear store relied heavily on office workers, many of whom were still working at home.
“Trade is still slow,” said Mr Gholami, noting at 11am on Monday he had not had one customer come through his doors yet that day.
The centre’s food court, which is usually packed with office workers, students and tourists, appears to be among the hardest hit.
Along with Red Rooster, Donut Time, Sunshine Kebabs and Vege Rama are closed.
Mind Games owner Garry Raines said trade was not quite back to normal but his 15-year-old games and puzzles business had remained open as people stocked up on things to keep them occupied during the lockdown.
Myer Centre manager Vicinity Centres said customer traffic had started to recover from the pandemic shutdown with almost 90 per cent of shops reopened.
Vicinity shopping centres director Justin Blumfield said Brisbane’s CBD retail precincts had been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Being located in Brisbane’s CBD, the Myer Centre was especially affected with a sharp decline in visitation as restrictions meant customers and CBD workers stayed home,” said Mr Blumfield.
Mr Blumfield said that over recent weeks there were early signs of a recovery in centre visitation, as some restrictions were eased.
“Retailers who closed their stores voluntarily in prior months are beginning to reopen for trade, with approximately 80 per cent of retailers open across our portfolio, including 87 per cent at Myer Centre Brisbane,” he said.
He said Myer Centre Brisbane would continue to be a much-loved destination for people visiting Brisbane’s CBD, with a critical CBD transport hub, including Australia’s busiest bus interchange.
“We know, while tourists are unable to visit and many city workers are still at home, the COVID-19 challenges will continue to impact our centre,” he said. “We will continue to look for new ways to support and reinvigorate CBD trade as conditions ease, and as CBD workers return to work.