LIST: Five months after the flood, which businesses are open/closed
The beloved Vinnies op shop at Oxley reopened today (July 27) five months after it was trashed in February’s flood. We look at other Brisbane businesses back up and running, or still struggling to reopen. LIST
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The February floods might be a fading memory, but there are still dozens of businesses yet to reopen or relocate, not to mention hundreds of homeowners still battling insurers or organising repairs.
We take a look at some of the Brisbane businesses to reopen or move, and others that are still deciding what to do next or still reconstructing.
REOPENED
VINNIES, OXLEY
The Vinnies shop at Factory Loop Rd, Oxley has been beautifully restored after the floods and reopened today (Wednesday, July 27).
Donations are now also being accepted in-store.
BUNNINGS, ROCKLEA
Bunnings’ flood-hit Rocklea store reopened early in June after major repairs, with the hardware giant using the natural disaster to add new features including a revamped cafe and kitchen design centre.
It had to seek specialist advice to ensure the warehouse was structurally and hygienically safe to reopen.
The revamped Rocklea Bunnings now includes energy efficient LED lighting throughout, a children’s playground, new bathroom displays and new format Trade Desk for tradies.
SPOTLIGHT, WINDSOR
It reopens today (July 20) with entertainment, giveaways and demonstrations from 8am-2pm and 10am-2pm on Saturday July 23, a great relief for loyal customers forced to trek to Everton Park.
Spotlight CEO Quentin Gracanin said the store, one of its biggest in Queensland, hosted Windsor State School students, teachers and parents who took part in art and craft sessions.
“The past six months has tested the Windsor community and team members,’’ he said.
“Along with many others across the state, they’ve had to rebuild, with some starting from scratch.
“However, this time has also shown the incredible resilience of the community.”
Spotlight Queensland Regional Manager Dani O’Connell said the students also created cards with words of hope and inspiration for those affected by the floods.
The celebrations included $400 in gift voucher for lucky customers, free pillows for the first 100 customers, live music, stilt walkers, a magician, balloon artists, gift card and product giveaways.
The refurbished store retained its original party concept and inflation station, but there was also a new dress and sew format, designated craft room and a wider range across all departments and categories.
MCDONALD’S, MILTON
Flood-hit Mcdonald’s in Milton, on Milton Rd near Park Rd, reopened its dine-in section on June 28.
Drive-through, delivery and take aways came back online on June 3.
“We’re excited to reopen McDonald’s Milton and look forward to once again serving a community we’ve been a part of for more than 20 years,’’ a spokeswoman said.
“We’ve taken this opportunity to refurbish the restaurant with new decor, equipment and digital kiosks that will deliver an even better experience for our customers.
“We’re on the lookout for new crew members to join across a variety of roles.
HARVEY NORMAN, OXLEY
It partially reopened on June 22, with a new showroom.
Before then customers could order online and pick up from its Richlands warehouse.
further renovations are well under way.
AUSTRALIAN PIANO WAREHOUSE, MILTON
The nation’s largest piano retailer, it was wiped out in the floods but has since bounced back after a major clean, throwing open its doors in late March.
“It was very rough — carpet rolled out on the floor and the gyprock ripped off the walls,’’ national operations owner for the family-owned business, Craig Maria, said.
“We didn’t properly reopen until two weeks ago because we had to coordinate with the landlord and tradies.’’
The pianos in store ranged from small entry level digital pianos worth a few hundred dollars right up to traditional upright and grand pianos worth thousands and thousands of dollars.
Even pianos on raised pallets were damaged, with total losses more than $1 million.
BROOKFIELD GARDENS, ROSS EVANS NURSERIES, BROOKFIELD
To look at them at the time, it now seems nothing less than a miracle that either of these popular westside garden centres ever reopened.
But by the end of March, both were welcoming back customers despite losing almost all plants and much of the rest of their stock.
The Ross Evans nursery was lucky its grow nursery was unaffected, while Brookfield Gardens had help from a volunteer army of locals.
Both are now trading as normal, with no signs there ever was a flood.
STILL CLOSED
TOOMBUL SHOPPING CENTRE
The highest-profile victim of the February floods, it was also the biggest with about 170 retailers affected.
Owners Mirvac announced in May that it would permanently close the centre due to extensive mould and water damage.
It would likely take years for a new development to open on the site.
One reported option was a build-to-rent unit project.
Since February a number of businesses have reopened elsewhere and the busy TransLink bus interchange reopened in early June.
Toombul Skin and Beauty is moving to 1231 Sandgate Rd, Nundah, next to Goodlife Gym, with building work presently under way.
Antica homewares has reopened at Market Central Lutwyche shopping centre, next to the Terry White Pharmacy.
Toombul Flight Centre has also moved to Market Central.
Shehnaz Beauty Salon has moved to 6/359 Gympie Rd, Kedron.
Toombul Family Dental has opened a practice at Everton Park, which coincidentally was in planning at the time of the floods.
Toombul Barber, which had been at the shopping centre since it opened in 1967, is now on the corner of Lancaster Rd and Charlton St, Ascot.
Studio Solo & Co moved across the road to a former location near the Toombul train station.
Function Well gym shifted to the Mercedes Benz building at Breakfast Creek.
Sensationails Nail Bar has moved to Westfield Chermside, near the Body Shop and is now called Addictionails.
Flight Centre has shifted to Centro Lutwyche, shop T308/543, Lutwyche Rd.
BUNNINGS, OXLEY
Options to reopen could include raising the ground level and rebuilding, or just walking away.
The hardware giant still has not revealed what it will do with its Oxley store, although redevelopment options in the coming six to 12 months could include a flood-resilient design.
Oxley staff have been redeployed to other warehouses.
Customers at the Oxley and Rocklea stores had to use outlets at Acacia Ridge and Mt Gravatt until Rocklea reopened.
BACH LIVING, STEFAN HAIR ACADEMY, SOUTH BRISBANE
The homewares shop owned by Stefan hairdressing salon chain and its hairdressing academy, long-term fixtures in South Brisbane, were devastated during the flood with most stock written off. Its headquarters also was affected.
The buildings will now be demolished as part of a mega three-unit tower project by developers Aria Property Group.
Bach and the warehouse have moved to the Stefan boating world property at Coomera, but a salon, mini-Bach and more will reopen soon at the nearby Mobo building in an exciting new era for the businesses.
SHELL COLES EXPRESS, TARINGA
While still closed, with no fixed reopening date, Coles said the service station would come back better than ever.
The service station, built on a floodprone site, is the only fuel outlet servicing Taringa, Toowong, St Lucia and Fig Tree Pocket and was always busy when it was operating.
Coles said the new-look service station would have a refreshed interior “delivering a sleek, more modernised formats and finishes storewide’’.
The Food To Go area would be reconfigured with an integrated counter for customers to shop for fuel, food and coffee in one location within store.
There would also be a cool room allowing for more refrigerated storage, new overhead signs and LED lights to improve energy efficiency.
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