Myer store in Queen Street Mall deserted ahead of Uptown redevelopment

Shocking footage shows the Myer store in Queen Street Mall completely deserted three months after the department giant vacated. WATCH THE VIDEO

Footage inside the Brisbane CBD’s former flagship Myer store shows the iconic retail space deserted three months after the department giant’s exit.

Once packed with shoppers and shelves of the latest fashions, homewares and beauty products, the space is now an eerie, empty shell.

The escalators are at a standstill, like they’re frozen in time, and stripped-bare concrete pillars tower over white, shiny tiles.

A deserted Myer store three months after the department giant vacated the Queen Street Mall centre. Picture: Supplied

The future of the store, and the centre which was rebranded Uptown after Myer vacated, remains under wraps, with owner Vicinity Centres declining to comment on plans.

A $500m upgrade was flagged in August, with 12 months of pre-development works the first step. For retailers that remain at Uptown, it can’t come soon enough.

Retail staff this week told The Courier-Mail that since Myer left, there had been a dramatic decline in shoppers.

“It’s just died out,” said one worker on the fifth floor.

“I think people used to come for Myer and now that it's gone, everything is gone.”

The Myer Centre in Queen St Mall rebranded as Uptown.

Another retail worker said they had been forced to cut back on staff hours.

“They couldn’t stop Myer from leaving, but lots of stores are leaving now, I mean we might even have to cut down into one store.”

Kat Waria, who regularly shops in Queen Street Mall, said it was a shame to see Myer gone.

“Myer has been here since I was a kid, mum would bring us there all the time. I actually don’t know what Uptown is.”

Vicinity Centres was approached for comment but declined to provide any details of upcoming development plans for Uptown.

In a statement, a spokesman said “we are not in the position to share any plans at this stage”.