Owners of Brandsmart Nunawading promise revamp, despite empty shops
A factory outlet complex in a prized location in Melbourne’s east is riddled with empty shops, but managers have denied speculation it will close, instead outlining big new plans.
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A factory outlet centre in a prized location in Melbourne’s east is riddled with empty shops, but managers have knocked back speculation the shopping centre could close.
The Brandsmart Premium Outlet Centre on Nunawading’s prized MegaMile strip
is instead set for a revamp, according to Acure Asset Management, who is working to attract new retailers to the 20-year-old shopping complex.
Ten of the centre’s 58 stores appeared vacant when Whitehorse Leader visited last week, while another two were holding closing-down sales, and one was setting up in an empty shop.
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Converse, Laura Ashley, Esprit, YD and Sass ‘n Bide have all closed their stores in the centre within the last 12 months following years operating at the 288 Whitehorse Rd site.
Phone accessory shop Case Factory is set to leave the complex in the next few weeks.
Owner Evan Yang said he was withdrawing his business from the outlet centre after six years because it was “more and more quiet”.
Mr Yang said he would have less than 20 people walk into his store each day.
“There’s no people around here.”
He said his regular customers had been asking where the shop would move to, but he was yet to decide because rent at shopping centres in the area was expensive.
Longtime retailer Ugg House will also close in the coming weeks.
Acure Asset Management’s Corey Johnson said multiple brands who had left the centre in the past 18 months, including as Crabtree & Evelyn, Esprit and Pumpkin Patch, had done so because their companies had closed nationwide.
He said a number of other stores’ leases in the centre were coming to an end.
“Expiring leases present a great opportunity to attract new retail brands to the centre, which our management team are working hard to do.”
Mr Johnson said the centre was getting internal refurbishments, security upgrades including CCTV and improved advertising along its Whitehorse Rd frontage.
“It’s a really exciting time for us as we improve our retailer mix and welcome new retailers to the centre,” he said.
Managing director Angelo Del Borrello said retail was “undergoing a significant structural transformation” with traditional shops having to compete with online stores for sales.
But he said outlet centres were “well placed to handle the changing retail landscape”.
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