Coles to shut shop at Capalaba Central after tough rivalry and network review

Retail giant Coles will pull out of a major southside shopping centre where it had been locked in a battle for market share with opposition supermarket Woolworths and with a second Coles store less than 700m away.

Capalaba Central, which is less than 700m from Capalaba Park.

Retail giant Coles will pull out of a major southside shopping centre where it had been locked in a battle for market share with opposition supermarket Woolworths and with another Coles store less than 700m away.

Coles at Capalaba Central will close its doors for the final time in April after Anzac Day and the Easter long weekend.

Woolworths will continue to trade at Capalaba Central alongside Harvey Norman, Big W, BCC Cinemas, the Coffee Club and more than 70 speciality retail outlets.

Capalaba Central management said it was too early to determine what retailer would replace Coles, which was one of the main anchor tenants Big W, Harvey Norman and Woolworths.

Management said vacant floor space in front of Coles would be converted into a free community hub where groups would be able to hold gatherings using a bookings system.

Coles at Capalaba Central will close next month and the foyer area converted into a free community meeting hub.

Coles’ departure followed an internal store network assessment, which included an review of a full-line Coles supermarket at the neighbouring Capalaba Park Shopping Centre, less than 700m away.

Along with its store at Capalaba Park, Coles will continue to operate Redland stores at Cleveland and Victoria Point.

Coles, which has been at Capalaba Central for 15 years, said it would continue to assess its network and would inform Redland residents if and when it planned to open a new store in the area.

Capalaba Central manager Kristy Pascoe said new tenants would bring in new customers and coincide with a Redland City Council revitalisation plan for the entire Capalaba shopping precinct around the library and bus station.

“Coles’ departure has enabled us to implement our vision for a revitalised retail mix at

Capalaba Central,” she said.

“These exciting changes coincide with Capalaba Town Centre’s Revitalisation Masterplan, a joint venture with Redlands Investment Corporation, which will bring enhanced value to

community, retailers and visitors.

“We will use the Coles foyer space to launch our new community initiative, The Circle, which will be a space for groups within the local area to gather, network and grow.”