Kmart Brandon Park: Plea for store to stay open

Shoppers fear a Wheelers Hill shopping centre will “die a slow death” if Kmart closes, as plans are unveiled for two huge developments at the site.

Customers are pleading with Kmart to keep its Brandon Park store open.

Shoppers are pleading for Kmart at Brandon Park to stay open, as plans are unveiled to build two multistorey towers, featuring a hotel and apartments, on the shopping centre site.

More than 400 people have signed a petition supporting a push to “Save Brandon Park Kmart from closing or “going dark.”

The store at the Wheelers Hill centre is set to close early next year after 37 years.

According to the petition, Kmart became an integral part of Brandon Park Shopping Centre in 1983 and has been a mainstay store ever since.

“Now times are changing and the centre may be developed further to feature apartments and a hotel,” the petition states.

“It is possible that Kmart Brandon Park is either going to close up for good or “go dark” (becoming a pick-up and warehouse solution for online shopping) in January 2022.

“Many shoppers who love the amenity of the store, its friendly staff and the vibe the store gives to the centre do not want the store to close or “go dark,” hence this petition.”

The petition will be presented to Kmart Australia upon completion.

Shoppers flooded Monash Leader’s Facebook page supporting the push to keep the store open.

“The store in Clayton is too far away and (Brandon Park) has ample parking,” Deepa Bhakta-Gamble said.

Rosina Carretta said: “Brandon Park will end up dying a slow death if Kmart goes. We need a shop like this,” while Julie Waddell said: “It is a great store. Love going there.”

A Kmart spokesperson previously told Leader the store’s lease expired at the site in January next year and would not be renewed. “We would like to sincerely thank our customers for their ongoing support over the past 37 years,” the spokesperson said.

It comes as 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.

The proposed seven-storey development. Picture: Monash Council

A portion of the eastern section of the existing shopping centre building will need to be demolished to make way for the development.

The second application is for a nine-storey residential apartment building with 149 apartments within the northeast corner of the site, on the corner of Ferntree Gully Rd and Brandon Park Drive.

An image of the proposed nine-storey apartment complex. Picture: Monash Council

A portion of the existing northeastern shopping centre carparking deck will need to be demolished to make way for the development.

After news broke of Kmart’s closing earlier this year, Brandon Park management moved to reassure customers the centre would remain operating.

“Please be assured, Brandon Park Shopping Centre will remain open,” the centre posted online.

“We can confirm that Kmart will be closing its store in early January 2022 and appreciate many customers will be disappointed. We have, however, been actively working on repurposing the store to introduce a mix of new retailers.

“Over the past 12 months, we have successfully renewed leases with major tenants, including Coles and Aldi, which demonstrates their ongoing commitment to the centre.”

Kmart and Brandon Park Shopping Centre have been contacted for comment.