Broadbeach precinct struggles with almost 20 shops left empty

Almost 20 shops in a popular Gold Coast shopping and dining precinct have been left bare, as COVID-19 delivers a devastating blow to the already-struggling strip.

THE Gold Coast’s top retail and dining precinct has been cast under a dark shadow of empty stores as COVID-19 offers another hit to the already-struggling sector.

The mall, Surf Parade and the Oracle in Broadbeach had 17 vacant stores up for sale or lease this week, with six on the western side of top restaurant hub Surf Parade alone.

Buca Di Bacco with for sale and for lease signs of the corner of Surf Parade and Queensland Ave.

One shopkeeper, who did not wish to be named, said that the precinct had fallen under hardship long before the pandemic struck, leaving stores, including former Italian restaurant Buca Di Bacco and retailer The Swimwear Specialists, empty for more than a year.

“I know we’re in a hard time but Broadbeach has suffered from pre-Commonwealth Games right through, the Commonwealth Games did nothing for Broadbeach,” he said.

Stores along Surf Parade in Broadbeach for sale and for lease.

LJ Hooker Broadbeach Commercial real estate agent Derek Wallbridge, whose name could be found across many empty property windows in the area, said customers began to lose interest when streetscaping works in 2016 saw the strip closed to traffic for up to 12 months.

“It was closed by the council for a long time and it affected foot traffic, after that was the Commonwealth Games which did nothing for businesses that weren’t directly involved.”

The Swimwear Specialist closed in March 2019.

Though according to Mr Wallbridge, the empty shop fronts were not as bad for the precinct as it may have looked.

“Some stores have already been sold or leased and there is a lot of interest from people in Sydney and Melbourne who are waiting for the borders to reopen,” the real estate agent said.

A Surf Parade restaurant employee said the issue relied more heavily on the fact that rent was not reduced during the pandemic.

An empty shop where Max Brenner Broadbeach once was in the Oracle

“There’s no sales around at the moment and there’s no conversation in rent, they’re not reducing a single dollar.”

“If restaurants open they have to pay the staff as well as rent and for some businesses it’s not possible,” said the man who asked not to be named.

Newly appointed Division 10 Councillor Darren Taylor put the closures down to the pandemic.

Several retail stores and restaurants, as well as office spaces for lease in the Broadbeach mall.

“I think that COVID-19 is the final straw and that maybe they haven’t been able to survive this time,” he said.

“The Casino is closed, Stores at Pacific Fair have been shut, I think this is an issue for all areas around the Gold Coast at the moment.”

Empty stores in the mall at Broadbeach.

Originally published as Broadbeach precinct struggles with almost 20 shops left empty