What you said about Brisbane’s food courts being abandoned

Queenslanders may be ditching food courts at fast food speeds but the reasons are much more complex. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Covid, costs and changing trends – Queenslanders may be ditching food courts at fast food speeds but the reasons are much more complex.

Brisbane’s CBD are struggling as eateries close and diners abandon them, with experts blaming increasing retail vacancy rates and work from home arrangements.

This week, The Courier-Mail visited both the Wintergarden food court in Elizabeth Street and the Post Office Square food court in Adelaide Street. The scenes were confronting.

Post Office Square resembled a ghost town, with much of it boarded-up amid a multimillion-dollar redevelopment. No date has been set for its completion.

Bibimbap & Grill was the only restaurant operating, but its store front was barely visible due to the surrounding white boards.

Staff member Elina Khongcharoen said the food court became quiet as soon as the redevelopment started.

“People don’t know (we’re still operating),” Ms Khongcharoen said.

The Wintergarden food court was just as abandoned, with multiple vacant stores, while those shops and restaurants still operating were struggling for customers.

It comes as Brisbane’s CBD retail vacancy reaches a record high of 19.8 per cent, according to real estate group CBRE.

Retailers and customers are abandoning food courts in the Brisbane CBD at alarming rates. Picture: Grace Koo

Marketing and consumer behaviour Professor Gary Mortimer said retail trends in CBD shopping malls had vastly changed in recent years.

Readers offered their own insights.

Some blamed the ongoing impact of Covid, with many working from home.

Others said cost of living was having a bite.

While some suggested changing trends – coupled with a rise in incidents – may be the driving force behind the decline.

Read what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>

WHAT YOU SAID

I blame Covid!

Chris O’Foley

The Brisbane CBD is no longer vibrant and exciting compared to the pre-covid hustle, bustle rushing around to secure a table. But the H.S Wharfs, Gasworks, and some inner-city Cafes/Bars are still really great. And … the new Eagle Street Precinct should also revive it’s location potential.

patty

I’d like to see the same article again in March after all the Uni’s and schools are back however there is no denying that WFH has had a dramatic effect on all Capital Cities

The Fred

No one goes to work now they “ Work “ from home

smith, winston

Empress Palaszczuk killed the CBD with her overkill response to Covid. Remember she “kept us safe” and destroyed us.

The Post Office Square food court in Brisbane’s CBD was abandoned on Thursday. Picture: Isabella Pesch.

Well, bring down costs

Anthony

A big part of this is related to the cost of living crisis, I used to think nothing of spending $30 per day on lunch and coffees, but I no longer do so.

Jean

I used to regularly go to the Myer centre for shopping and lunch. Then the cost of parking on top of the 1 hour drive in fuel, just made it too expensive. I have not been into the city in years purely because of the cost. I now go to Robina with the free parking.

Paul

The cost of Public Transport makes me stay at home 3 days a week. $13.26 for a round trip on the train is way too expensive. Throw $15-$20 on top of that for lunch makes going to the city a very expensive proposition.

The Other White Fred

The insane price of the items they are trying to sell is also very much to blame.

RozH2

I don’t go into Brisbane these days, the parking costs are almost as much as I spend. Greedy council sadly just discourages people.

Customers were hard to find when we visited the Wintergarden food court. Picture: Grace Koo

There are wider issues

Rumball – forever pending

I had the same feelings in Melbourne recently- grotty, junkies hanging about, homeless everywhere etc. There’s many vibrant cities overseas, look at some Asian countries for example. They’re vibrant for all ages, plenty on offer, safe day and night. No lawless youth roaming in packs either. I loved going out and doing all the things there that I wouldn’t dare in Brisbane anymore, or that aren’t on offer here.

Mark

There are a lot of homeless people around these 2 areas. Many have set up permanent beds and clothes lines. A caring State government or council would look to fix that issue.

Chris

Unfortunately CBDs are dying all around the western world. Im visiting family in San Diego US atm and the CBD here is dead. For Lease signs everywhere and the homeless outnumber the office workers. The demise of this CBD has been happening over the past 6-7 years. I hope it never gets this bad in Brissy.

Susan

Unfortunately Brisbane is not known around the world as a tourist destination and in reality the locals really don’t need to go now into the CBD area. This is just reality.

ToM

Thanks to labor increasing the cost of living while pretending they’re not has caused this. labor has caused a significant increase in inflation. They know what they’re doing to us and they love it!!! Get rid of them!!!