Bunnings sausage sizzles back at Melbourne stores in phased return

The popular sausage sizzle is returning this weekend, but not at all Melbourne Bunnings stores. See which lucky few suburbs are first in line.

Melburnians will have extra incentive to get back to the shops, with Bunnings bringing back its much-loved sausage sizzle.

The hardware chain has listed the initial 24 Melbourne stores where you can pick up a snag this weekend.

It’s expected other Bunnings stores will follow suit in the coming weeks as the company briefs staff on the latest health and safety requirements.

Bunnings managing director Mike Schneider said the community sausage sizzles were returning to “selected Bunnings stores” in Melbourne as of Saturday.

Melburnians can enjoy a Bunnings sausage again. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“They’re a fundraising favourite and a tradition our team have really missed and we can’t wait to welcome community groups back behind the BBQs,” he said.

“It’s not the first time we’ve brought back the sausage sizzle, so the community groups as well as our store teams, will use our experience to ensure that it adheres to all Covid-safe measures and runs smoothly and safely for everyone.”

Bunnings sausage sizzles are back at selected Melbourne stores. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Meanwhile, there were queues at Melbourne shopping centres on Friday night as eager customers navigated the social distancing and check-in protocols.

The suffering retail industry is embracing the easing of restrictions with a festive type spirit, as many leave their doors open until midnight.

Shopping precincts have been frantically getting ready after Premier Daniel Andrews surprisingly gave them an early start on Friday.

The updated Victorian roadmap will now allow ‘non-essential’ retail to reopen from 6pm.

Shoppers can get their retail fix at major Melbourne stores on Friday night. Picture: Jay Town

Myer plans to extend their trading hours until midnight in a hope to snap up buyers keen to get their Spring Racing Carnival frocks and glam on.

Chief customer officer Geoff Ikin said they had sold over 110,000 dresses in the past few weeks online and expected a surge come Friday as our lack lustre social calendars start to fill up.

“It is great to have retail therapy back in Metro Melbourne and we can’t wait to open our doors with socially distanced arms this Friday,” Ikin told the Herald Sun.

“We expect to see more summer dresses and footwear flying out the door. Suiting and accessories are also in high demand with the Spring Racing Carnival kicking off this weekend.”

Shopping centres including Westfield and Chadstone are expecting high demand from pent up visitors eager to return to a shop that isn’t virtual.

Chadstone regional general manager Michael Whitehead said the shopping precinct plans to celebrate the long-awaited reopening with a three-piece jazz band and Warm Welcome Back installation as a form of retail therapy when their doors open the minute the clock strikes 6pm.

“We expect to see the centre return to normal occupancy quite quickly and sales revert to pre-pandemic trends,” Whitehead said. “We’ve seen a 20 per cent increase in spend per visit throughout 2021 compared to 2019 which shows that customers are eager to shop particularly as we prepare for Black Friday Week and Christmas.”

Even the humble Bunnings sausage sizzle is making an eagerly awaited return, but not until Saturday. Until then Ho ho ho and shop.