Toombul launches new assault in shopping centre revamp war: It’s amazing

The latest salvo has been launched in Brisbane’s shopping centre revamp wars. This centre is planning an all-out assault on dining and entertainment with a $35 million makeover.

Toombul Shopping Centre will undergo a $35 million revamp, adding what developers are calling “a first-of-its kind, urban dining and entertainment experience”.

Mirvac, who bought the centre in 2016, has put the centre through a phase of upgrades, but this one takes the cake.

Previously:

Lutwyche icon to lose retro styling

Nod to past in shopping centre upgrade

Shopping centre plans mouth-watering future

Open by the end of the year, the redevelopment — called UPSTAIRS at Toombul — will add up to 10 new eateries, a refurbished art-house cinema and a funky new “circus-slash-arcade bar” Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq.

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Toombul Shopping Centre will spent $35 million upgrading its eating and entertainment offerings, open at the end of 2019. Called UPSTAIRS at Toombul, it will see indoor-outdoor dining venues mixed with entertainment zones. Picture: Mirvac.

Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq’s venues in Sydney’s Alexandria and Melbourne’s Docklands are a neon-light filled fun factory of arcade games, laser tag, bowling, virtual reality games, bumper cars and cinema, eatery and a cocktail bar, featuring wacky signature drinks mixing lollies, whipped cream and alcohol.

One of the Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq cocktails. It will open at Toombul at the end of the year.

Toombul Centre Manager, Melanie Hodge said “dining at UPSTAIRS is about more than just food, it’s a fully immersive experience”.

Natural light will be a major feature of Toombul’s new eatery area.

“Our customers have been craving something new and exciting. They want more than just a place to shop, they want stimulating experiences and eateries. Toombul will become the place for people to socialise, be entertained and indulged,” Ms Hodge said.

Toombul, which opened in 1967, has Coles, Kmart, Target and Aldi, more than 110 specialty stores and an eight-screen BCC Cinema Complex. A decade ago, media reports told of tough times for retail tenants at the centre. Major retailers such as David Jones vacated the centre in 2011. Since taking over Toombul, Mirvac has spent more than $10 million upgrading the centre and also attracted two major retailers, Bunnings and Pet Barn.

Toombul Shopping Centre will spent $35 million upgrading its eating and entertainment offerings, open at the end of 2019.

Mirvac Retail marketing documents, titled “Reinventing an Icon”, describe Toombul’s “core customer in the main trade area” as “predominantly affluent, educated and social”.

The document states that customers have a “higher per capita income than the Brisbane Metro Average”, are aged primarily between 20-39, and that 71 per cent of them use the centre to shop.

They also spent 11 per cent more than the average Brisbane resident at retail businesses.

Toombul Shopping Centre’s UPSTAIRS at Toombul development.

This reinvention is the latest in a long list of the area’s shopping centre upgrades.

Lutwyche Shopping Centre’s $40 million revamp is underway and, when finished this year, it will have an indoors/outdoors foodcourt.

Scentre Group spent $355 million on Westfield Chermside, adding a new floor and a resort-inspired dining wing.

Further afield in the northwest, Brookside Shopping Centre is undergoing a revamp, as well as Stafford City.

Toombul Shopping Centre will spent $35 million upgrading its eating and entertainment offerings, open at the end of 2019.

In the southwest, Multiplex has spent $300 million on their Indooroopilly centre, while there are plans for a new entertainment and leisure precinct at Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre.

Toombul Shopping Centre will spent $35 million upgrading its eating and entertainment offerings, open at the end of 2019.

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