Epping and Greensborough plazas, Westfield Plenty Valley stores open ahead of Mother’s Day
In the lead-up to Mother’s Day, shoppers are returning en masse to Westfield Plenty Valley, Epping Plaza and Greensborough Plaza. Here are the shops reopening their doors.
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Shoppers are returning to major centres across Melbourne’s north as retailers reopen their doors and spruik Mother’s Day bargains despite lockdown restrictions.
The Leader visited Epping Plaza and Westfield Plenty Valley on Monday where a wide variety of specialist and retail stores had chosen to reopen in preparation for Mother’s Day.
Many business owners had plastered signs across shop windows and entrances stipulating a maximum limit of shoppers allowed inside at a time.
Stores such as Harris Scarfe, Opal Men’s, Temt, Zinc, Sports Co, Bed Bath n Table, Big W, Apetite 4 Life, Platypus, Athlete’s Foot, Skechers, Edge, Best and Less will trade this week.
Toy World, All About Linen, QBD Books, Bad, Valley Girl, Melody, the Reject Shop, Rebel Sport and entertainment giants JB Hi-Fi and EB Games also returned to business.
Jewellery shops Bevilles, Lovisa and Pandora also reopened across Epping Plaza and Westfield Plenty Valley, spruiking big discounts and Mother’s Day deals.
Shopper Hanna Knowles said she wanted to support local business in their slow return to trading.
“If we can all do our little bit while maintaining social distancing than I say ‘why not’, they should be open,” she said.
While Darya Leos said “word of mouth” about Mother’s Day bargains had lured her to shop at Westfield Plenty Valley on Monday.
“It’s a good opportunity to get something nice for my mother while businesses are offering very cheap prices,” the Thomastown resident said.
Foot traffic was also returning to Nillumbik’s most popular shopping centre, Greensborough Plaza.
The Leader can confirm popular specialty stores such as The Reject Shop, Athlete’s Foot, Surf Dive n Ski, Godfreys, Up 2 $5, All About Linen and Bargain Express were open.
Deja Vu Interiors, Melbourne Rugs, Prouds, Lovisa, Rivers, Millers, Katies, Rockmans, Central Line and Footy Plus More also reopened their doors.
JB Hi-Fi and EB Games returned along with Riot Art & Craft, Toyworld, Robinsons Books and Best Books 4 Less.
But while shoppers returned to Greensborugh Plaza, shopping centre spokesperson Nicole Jackson said some stores were only easing into trading and would not be at open at their usual capacity.
“They are just testing the waters and at this point do not guarantee to open every day, or for their full trading hours. The list of open stores is still changing frequently,” she said.
Shoppers are encouraged to phone the store the check opening hours.
Victorians are still being told to practice safe social distancing, with reasons to leave home restricted to buying food and other necessary goods, access to medical services or caregiving.
Residents can also only leave their houses to attend work or education in the event those things cannot be done from home, and to exercise.
These restrictions are expected to continue until at least May 11.
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But Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday Australians deserved an “early mark” on coronavirus restrictions and National Cabinet would bring forward a key meeting on relaxing the restrictions to May 9, a week earlier than scheduled.
Despite this, the Victorian Government still intends to review the state’s restrictions on May 11.