Adairs launches its Westfield store after nearly two decades in Market Square

Visitors to Market Square will notice another vacant shopfront following Adairs’ move across the road.

Adairs has moved over the road from Market Square to Westfield.

Visitors to Market Square will notice another vacant shopfront following Adairs’ move across the road, with the homewares outlet launching its new home on Friday.

The specialty store closed its Market Square outlet amid growing concern from tenants over dwindling foot traffic and rising costs at the once-bustling retail hub.

Adairs has moved over the road from Market Square to Westfield.

The centre has lost a number of businesses in the past year with former tenants citing high rents as a key factor.

City Chic closed in August and an employee said at the time that the state of Market Square was “just dead”.

Katie Hanns, Adairs manager, said the business was excited to start its new journey.

“It’s a beautiful new space, a beautiful new store,” she said.

“We just thought this was a better fit for us at this moment, that’s why we decided to move.

“There is much more foot traffic, which is probably why we made the move over.

“We’re just hoping lots of new customers come over and see us.”

In August, Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan and chief executive Ali Wastie visited Singapore and had organised, via Market Square property manager Knight Frank, to meet the directors of Market Square owner, Davinski Nominees.

It would have been the parties’ first face-to-face conversation in several years.

But Mr Sullivan said Knight Frank fell silent upon the pair’s arrival in Singapore and no meeting eventuated.

The new Adairs outlet in Westfield opened on Friday. Picture: Mike Dugdale.

The Committee for Geelong, backed by its member groups, has since met state and federal government representatives to discuss possibilities for the site.

Chief executive Michael Johnston said the committee had participated in Geelong council’s masterplan process for the area, in which it proposed to maximise public open space.

“This is a bold and visionary concept that would create a ‘green heart’ for our city,” he said.

Originally published as Adairs launches its Westfield store after nearly two decades in Market Square