H&M, Ralph Lauren among retailers reopening this weekend

As isolation restrictions are relaxed this weekend, allowing for non-essential shopping, major Queensland shopping centres reveal how many of their stores have thrown their doors open and while some continue to shut up shop.

A NUMBER of big-brand retailers are planning to throw open their doors this Saturday as a restriction on non-essential shopping is relaxed across Queensland.

Global retailers H&M and Polo Ralph Lauren will reopen their stores at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and Sunshine Plaza.

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It comes as experts and the National Retail Association sounds the alarm over the impact these closures are having on the nation’s retail sector, with fears it could accelerate the “retail apocalypse.”

Startling statistics given to The Courier-Mail show that many stores technically classed as ‘essential’ still decided to voluntarily close their doors.

Inside Pacific Fair during the lockdown, where stores are sitting empty.

According to AMP Capital, only 120 of the 367 stores, or 32 per cent, at Pacific Fair were still open.

Big W, Billabong, Boost Juice, David Jones, Culture Kings, JD Sports, Lovisa and Kmart were expected to be open on Saturday.

Only 95 stores out of AMP’s Indooroopilly Shopping Centre’s 297 were trading earlier this week, but a spokeswoman for the company said they anticipated another 25 stores to open for the weekend, including H&M, Oscar Oscar and Polo Ralph Lauren.

“While the health and safety of everyone who visits remains our priority, we are pleased to see many retailers re-open just in time for Mother’s Day and look forward to welcoming back the staff and wider community again,” AMP Capital Shopping Centre Marketing general manager Louise Raymond said.

Ms Raymond said extra cleaning measures would be in place and encouraged shoppers to practice sensible social distancing.

Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, which is owned by Lendlease, reported that only 70 of its 333 stores, or just 21 per cent of outlets, were open earlier this week.

The Sunshine Coast’s biggest shopping hub is however expected to have 100 stores open for the weekend.

Meanwhile, the trendy precinct of James Street in Brisbane’s inner city has reported that more than half of its stores have remained open in some form.

Stores along James St in Fortitude Valley have adapted to the world of coronavirus, with more than half of some stores open. Picture: File.

Only 16 of its 110 stores have closed completely, with another 45 operating solely online or via virtual appointments.

49 of its outlets are operating normally or restricted to takeaway only.

Scentre Group, which operates the Westfield brand in Australia, refused to provide a breakdown of how many stores remained open at Chermside, Carindale and Mt Gravatt, however said roughly 40 per cent of stores nationwide remained open.

“All 37 Westfield centres in Australia are open and trading,” a Scentre Group spokeswoman said.

“More retailers are talking to us about opening.”