Harris Scarfe Box Hill closed: Shoppers share ideas for new tenant

Department store Harris Scarfe has closed its doors at Box Hill Central, and shoppers have plenty of ideas on what should replace it. A bowling alley, cinema or another fashion store are among the suggestions.

Harris Scarfe closed 21 stores around the country earlier this year.

Shoppers have shared their ideas on what should replace the former department store Harris Scarfe at Box Hill Central.

Harris Scarfe shut 21 shops around the country earlier this year, including three in Victoria — outlets in Box Hill, Bendigo and Mildura.

The closures came after the 170-year-old retail chain collapsed into receivership.

In March administrators and receivers advised they had granted exclusivity to the Spotlight Group to buy the business. Remaining stores in Victoria include outlets at Forest Hill Chase shopping centre and Westfield Knox.

On Whitehorse Leader’s Facebook page, readers shared what they wanted to see replace Harris Scarfe at the centre.

Peta Thompson said she would love to see Kmart open while Heather May Clarke suggested a H&M or David Jones.

Wilson Lau said he would like to see a cinema at the centre while Mahapatra Baibhab suggested a bowling alley like Strike or AMF.

Kirsten Fleur Boxall said she would love to see a Dymocks book store open.

Others said they wanted to see the whole centre upgraded.

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Bronwen Laughlin said: “A whole revamped shopping centre with some good shops. Kmart, bring back some clothes and shoe shops. As it is there is nothing.”

Lisa Draper said the toilets were the worst shopping centre toilets she had seen.

In a statement, Box Hill Central said the landlord was looking at a number of options in regards to the Harris Scarfe site and at this point was not able to announce who the replacement tenant would be.