Speculation of a move to a bigger site for pharmacy giant’s CBD store

The purchase of the Kern Arcade by Chemist Warehouse billionaires has raised speculation the company will shift its Rockhampton City franchise.

The Kern Arcade in December 2020. The Cooper family have just announced they would be closing the centre.

The co-founders of the Chemist Warehouse are among the new owners of the Kern Arcade in Rockhampton, fuelling speculation of a move there for the pharmacy giant’s East Street store.

Mario Verrocchi, Sam Gance and Jack Gance are co-directors of a Victorian company which paid $5.15m for the 16-shop arcade and three-storey car park located in Rockhampton’s CBD.

Mario Verrocchi, one of the founders of Chemist Warehouse and current chief executive Vikesh Ramsunder, at the ASX for the formal listing of the new merged entity made up of Sigma Health Care and Chemist Warehouse. John Feder/The Australian.

The purchase by the Chemist Warehouse billionaires last month has raised speculation the company, which merged with Sigma Healthcare this year, will shift its Rockhampton franchise from a nearby leased store to the arcade.

The properties are both located in East Street with the Kern Arcade across the road from the Chemist Warehouse’s previous store at 113 East St, which it was forced to move from after major storm damage in 2021.

No sign of activity at the Kern Arcade on April 29, 2025 two weeks after the sale settled.

If Chemist Warehouse moves to the Kern Arcade it’s likely the layout of the building would be changed significantly to fit the needs of the pharmacy chain’s large-scale business model.

The owner of the two Rockhampton Chemist Warehouse operations, Paul Arnold, this week declined to comment on the Kern Arcade purchase and a possible move there.

Chemist Warehouse, Rockhampton East St

The Morning Bulletin archives show that Mr Arnold did approach the Kern Arcade’s previous owners, the well-known Cooper family, about a move there in 2021 following the storm damage to the 113 East st building but that was ruled out due when the arcade went on the market.

The Chemist Warehouse senior management has been approached for comment about its plans for the Kern Arcade and the future of its 113 East Street property.