Kmart Brandon Park closes after 38 years

Customers are sharing their memories of the Brandon Park Kmart, including visiting Holly’s and buying records.

Kmart at Brandon Park Shopping Centre has officially closed its doors to the public after 38 years, despite a passionate community campaign to save it.

After being an integral part of the Wheelers Hill centre for decades, first opening its doors in 1983, the store closed to customers on January 8.

Photos posted by shoppers online revealed empty aisles of the store had been roped off ahead of its closure.

Leader understands the store will continue to offer a click-and-collect service, with staff working to fill online orders.

More than 600 people signed a petition supporting a push to “Save Brandon Park Kmart from closing”, fearing the impact the closure would have on the shopping centre.

The lead petitioner said Wheelers Hill residents would now be reliant on the Kmart stores at Stud Park Rowville or M-City in Clayton, both of which “involve a bit of a hike” for older folks.

“I was motivated (to start the petition) by two things … one is the fact that I have shopped at Kmart at Brandon Park since it opened (and when it sold things as diverse as SLR camera lenses, golf sets and guns) and the fact that so many older people have remarked, over coffees at various Brandon Park cafes, that they are really upset that Kmart is making the store go ‘dark’,” he said.

There are reports the closure of Kmart is already hurting nearby businesses in the centre.

A Facebook post has been shared widely asking customers to support Rhubarb Cafe, which has lost a lot of customers after the store closure.

Customers are sharing their memories of visiting the store, including dining in at Holly’s Cafe, buying records and exploring its art and craft section, described as “the best in Melbourne”.

“Loved the Kmart in Brandon park. Unfortunely the centre will not be the same without a major shopping chain,” Marisha Goldfarb said on Monash Leader’s Facebook page.

Gail Irvine said: “So sad, it was the best Kmart around.”

Others remembered other long lost stores at the centre, including Venture, McEwans and Kleins jewellery store.

Two planning applications for the Brandon Park Shopping Centre site have been lodged with Monash Council, including a seven-storey mixed-use building featuring apartments and a residential hotel, medical centre and offices on Brandon Park Drive.