Craigieburn Central shoppers share ideas to improve abandoned shopping centre

Northern Leader readers have shared their thoughts on how to improve a struggling shopping centre. Could they be the answer?

Leader readers have told us how they’d get crowds back to the ‘ghost town’ at Craigieburn Central. Picture: Rob Leeson.

CRAIGIEBURN Central management has welcomed feedback from Northern Leader readers about ways to improve the shopping centre.

The Leader reported last week that retailers had been abandoning the food court at the $330 million centre, which opened in 2013.

Readers responded with passion on the Leader’s social media pages.

Hamed Ed Shoghi told the Northern Leader Facebook page the outdoor shopping area in the centre of the complex was a “big mistake”, labelling it a “wind tunnel” that could become “freezing cold”.

He suggested the popular idea of installing a roof over it to protect shoppers from cold winds during winter.

SHOPPING CENTRE LIKE GHOST TOWN AS RETAILERS SHUT DOWN AND SHOPPERS GO ELSEWHERE

CRAIGIEBURN CENTRAL SHOPPING COMPLEX TAKES SHAPE

JOJO SIWA PACKS OUT EASTLAND AND FORCES FANS OUTDOORS

Others wanted the option of undercover parking to make it easier for young families, particularly those with prams, to access the centre.

“No undercover parking is a big issue,” said Kate Young.

Rachel Anne Bendelle agreed, adding it was a “nightmare” moving a baby in a pram from the carpark to the entrance, or across from one precinct to the other in the rain.

One reader said the centre’s design should be centred around the needs of women “as they do most of the shopping”.

Bianka Cesnik said the layout of the centre was difficult to navigate. “I deliberately avoid it here because it’s an absolute maze,” she said. “I don’t know where anything is.”

Reader Brett Seriani attributed the centre’s decline in retailers to the increasing popularity of online shopping, particularly among young people.

“We’re experiencing a change in values in the upcoming generations, where the traditional shopping experience is being replaced by online retailers and designer hirers,” he said.

However, Angela Lawson urged the local community to support Craigieburn Central by continuing to shop there.

“I would much prefer to shop local and support our community and retailers,” she said. “We waited so long for this shopping complex but sadly if we don’t use it, we will lose it.

“I also love that we have a choice of restaurants and cafes and we need to support them too.”

Craigieburn Central manager Simon Ward said the centre worked “closely with the local community in a number of areas and our customers’ feedback is integral”.

“We continue to work towards improving the design of our food and entertainment offering to meet our customers’ expectations and to deliver a great place for our community,” he said.

MORE NEWS:

CRAIGIEBURN’S NEW AMBULANCE STATION STILL WAITING TO BE BUILT

ILLEGAL RUBBISH DUMPING SPIRALLING ACROSS HUME AND SUNBURY