Myer’s ironic move back into CBD after leaving giant retail hole

Major changes loom for Brisbane’s premier shopping strip as retail giant Myer hunts for a smaller CBD presence after leaving the precinct with a gaping hole more than two years ago.

There’s been some movement in the Queen Street Mall with funky streetwear brand Culture Kings finding a new home and retail giant Myer on the lookout for a new swish space in the heart of the CBD.

Those in the know tell us that Culture Kings – that traces its roots to Simon and Tah-nee Beard’s market stall in 2008 – will move into the long-time vacant Westpac site at 115 Queen St next door to Uptown or rather the old Myer Centre.

The entrance to the former Myer store in Queens Street Mall in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled

Culture Kings, which is now owned by US based a.k.a Brands, is leaving its long-term base in Elizabeth St and we hear that their new digs on the Mall will be a two-level flagship for the business.

Meanwhile, we’re hearing there’s big interest in fast fashion giant H&M huge 3600 sqm space at 170 Queen Street Mall. The Swedish retailer closed the doors in September after 10 years and the space has been viewed by plenty of retailers.

Swedish fast fashion retailer has closed its flagship Brisbane CBD store.

What we’ve heard – which surprises the hell out of City Beat – is that Myer has had a good look at the property, which is pretty ironic consider the retail giant left its eponymous flagship destination next door two years ago, creating one mighty retail hole.

The H&M site might be leased as one big space or be cut up and remember Myer left because their Uptown space was too big and the retailer is looking to go small in the Mall.

But that’s not all. We hear the big retailer has cast its eye over the Wintergarden and actually went back to Uptown owners ISPT and Vicinity Centres inquiring about space in the centre not too long after they vacated.

The old Myer Centre that was renamed Uptown in 2023.

Meanwhile, that mid to lower section of the Mall increasingly “smells like a teen spirit” (apologies to Kurt Cobain).

With Culture Kings just up the Mall, Mecca Maxima, Uniqlo, Zara and of course Maccas, Hungry Jack’s and now Wendy’s on Albert St retail expert Gary Mortimer reckons it has the makings of a “youth precinct”.

“It’s perfectly positioned for young people,” the professor says. “But the big question is what’s happening with the Myer Centre?”

90+ photos: Ultimate Myer Centre gallery through the years

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Missile target

Brisbane munitions baron Rob Nioa’s empire is growing with his company in the frame to be the first outside of France to help produce one of the world’s most advanced air defence missile systems.

His NIOA Group and multinational European defence company MBDA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU provides the opportunity to explore options for assembly or production of Australian made warheads for the Mistral suite of missiles and becoming part of the global Mistral supply chain.

The French-made Mistral is a Very Short Range Air Defence system that works on a “fire-and-forget” mode, with a high manoeuvrability supersonic speed, guaranteeing a short interception time. Thats great for intercepting wide variety of threats, from aircraft to

helicopters, drones, cruise missiles. missile-capable navy gunboats and loitering munitions.

Nioa (illustrated) says: “With the Australian Government’s focus on domestic manufacturing of a wider range of munitions and the expansion of partnerships with industry, the timing is right for NIOA and MBDA to take this first and significant step.”

Nioa Group has signed an MoU with MBDA for its Mistral suite of missiles.

Originally published as Myer’s ironic move back into CBD after leaving giant retail hole