Hyperdome tight lipped over plans for Home Centre reconfiguration

Relocation of traders at a popular southside homewares centre has triggered talk of a major retail reconfiguration at one of the state’s largest shopping centres.

Relocation of traders at a popular southside homewares centre has triggered talk of a major retail reconfiguration at one of the state’s largest shopping centres.

The state government-owned Hyperdome Home Centre is expected to hold discussions with some traders about possible retail reconfigurations at the popular southside shopping centre.

The centre, adjacent to the Hyperdome Shopping Mall, is home to 16 major retailers including Bunnings, BCF, Pet Barn, Pillow Talk, Forty Winks, Carpet Call, and Supercheap Auto.

Pet Barn, which opened at the centre in 2012, will move from its current location to open next to Snap Fitness on Saturday.

In the past six months, Rebel Sports and JB HiFi moved from the Home Centre into the main Hyperdome Shopping Centre.

The state-government owned Hyperdome Home Centre will have discussions with some traders about possible retail reconfigurations.

The moves, along with the departure of Mitre 10 in October, has left more than 2000sq m of floor space vacant at the Home Centre.

This week’s reshuffle also sparked speculation the site, owned by Queensland Investment Corporation, was undergoing a shake-up to allow Bunnings to expand or to move businesses out of the way before the M1 was widened from Daisy Hill.

Bunnings said its lease was up for renewal in June but it was unable to share details of upcoming negotiations with centre management and denied there were plans to move or expand.

Both BCF and The Good Guys said they had heard speculation about changes at the Home Centre, including BCF shifting to the old Rebel Sports store and Pillow Talk moving to the current Curtain Wonderland site.

Both said they were undertaking major renovations and had no plans to move.

Some of the traders from the Home Centre have moved into the Hyperdome Shopping Centre but centre management has remained tight lipped over upcoming discussions with Bunnings about possible retail reconfigurations.

Retailers contacted for comment did not want to give details about their leases or rents.

However, former tenant Nishil Vekariya said he knew many retailers at the centre who wanted to move to cut their rents.

He said he was forced out after paying $1.1 million a year for two sites inside the shopping centre.

“I paid $96,000 a month rent for two sites,” he said.

“What bizarre arithmetic allows two vacancies to outweigh a reduced rent.

“The fact that rent was then reduced for someone else was heartbreaking.”

The Hyperdome did not respond to Mr Vekariya’s claims.

Choice the Discount Store, which closed in September 2019, was charged $63,000 a month with further rents of $32,000 for a second site inside the Hyperdome.

Hyperdome centre manager Brian Turner was unable to elaborate on talk of a reshuffle at the Home Centre and said all information about lease negotiations remained commercial-in-confidence.

“We can confirm that as part of our active management strategy, Pet Barn will relocate to a site adjacent to Snap Fitness, opening their doors in this new space later this month,” Mr Turner said.

“At this stage, we are unable to confirm any further updates, as lease negotiations remain commercial-in-confidence.”

A copy of a monthly rental bill for $63,322 from QIC to former Hyperdome tenant Nishil Vekariya, who leased two sites at the Hyperdome.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said the realignment of the M1 at the Logan Hyperdome was under review with the Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway upgrade now in the planning phase.

Community consultation is expected before a business case to widen the road on the eastern side outside the Hyperdome is delivered at the end of the year.

The widening project and bus lanes at the Hyperdome is expected to start after the M1 Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill upgrade is completed in late 2024.

Mr Turner said along with Rebel Sports and JB HiFi, the Hyperdome had attracted new retailers including Spotlight Creative, Grill’d, Rashays, Jamaica Blue, Rockmans, Millers, Noni B and Pacific Smiles.

In January 2021, three major women’s fashion outlets closed their doors at the Hyperdome renewing calls for an overhaul in management and leasing deals.

Fashion retailers Katies, Noni B, and Rockmans shut after Mosaic Brands said it had been in talks with landlords to renegotiate leases.

Mosaic Brands also owns Crossroads and Rivers, which still have outlets at the Hyperdome.