Box Hill South: Crowds flock to Decathlon store opening

Hundreds of people queued in Box Hill south this morning, desperate for an early look at Melbourne’s second Decathlon sports warehouse. Here’s what they lined up for.

Hundreds lining up to get the first glimpse inside Decathlon.

Hundreds of people lined up in the heat today to be the first customers at Box Hill South’s Decathlon sports warehouse — the world’s biggest sporting retailer’s second Victorian store.

And they travelled from all across Melbourne to get their hands on the French retailer’s discount sports clothes and equipment.

Many customers said they were already big fans, and had shopped at one of its 1400 overseas stores, which can be found in 45 countries.

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Chi Tan, of Point Cook, took the day off work to travel across Melbourne and get an early look inside the store.

He said he and his partner had been eagerly waiting for the Box Hill South store’s launch, after shopping at Decathlon in Asia.

Hundreds lining up to get the first glimpse inside Decathlon.

“We used to buy from Decathlon and find the products are very good,” he said.

Sabrina Torchini drove from Greensborough.

Having moved from Europe, she said she was used to shopping at Decathlon, which she loved because it offered “so much in one place”.

Ashburton’s Rebecca Jennings said she had been hoping for a Victorian Decathlon store after she discovered the retailer in France.

“I’ve been wishing to the universe that Decathlon would come here ever since,” she said.

“The store was amazing and the quality is awesome.”

The discount retailer sells sports singlets from as low as $5.50.

Ajay Thomas, of Box Hill, turned up to the store already wearing the brand’s activewear, which he had bought in his Indian hometown.

He said he loved Decathlon’s unique brands, and had been asking his friends to send him Decathlon clothes from in India.

Blackburn South’s Tess Nuevo was one of the first customers to line up in the 35C heat, so she could check out the range of tents and camping equipment.

She said she hadn’t previously heard of the brand, but had been strongly recommended by her colleagues to go check it out.

Customers trying out sporting equipment.

The warehouse was abuzz with customers grabbing Christmas presents, clothing items to try on and testing out equipment.

Two girls had a game of badminton on rollerblades, while others scooted and shot some hoops.

The store is at 247 Middleborough Rd, Box Hill South, and is open from 7am to 11pm every day of the week.

More: decathlon.com.au

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