Boutique stores feeling the pinch at Ringwood’s Eastland with a surge of shop closures

A MAJOR revamp could be on the horizon for one of Melbourne’s busiest shopping destinations, but the centre’s management are remaining tight-lipped on just what shops will fill the vacancies.

EASTLAND has lost a number of boutique retailers with concerns rising it could struggle to hold on to other top-end brands.

And the shopping centre has given an indication it could “remix” its offerings in the struggling corridor.

Maroondah Leader found more than 10 empty shop spaces throughout Eastland during a visit this month — including three on level two of the central mall, which contains various high-end jewellery and fashion stores.

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The empty spaces were hidden by frosted screening, clothing items, plants and illuminated signage with the words ‘Shopping Is My Cardio’.

Another retailer in the corridor, Camilla, is also ending its “two-year pop up” shortly and moving to Westfield Doncaster.

Vacancies at Eastland could mean new retailers for the shopping centre. Picture: Daniel Pockett

One trader, who declined to be named, said three previous tenants in the corridor recently disappeared within two weeks.

“It’s not helping everyone in that area that the shops are closing down,” the trader said.
“It affects the look and vibe of the whole strip and sales as well, because there’s not enough foot traffic.”

Croydon Hills shopper Chris Smith said he hadn’t visited any shops in the corridor since Eastland’s redevelopment opened in 2015.

“It’s always quiet when you walk through here, everything around Eastland is pretty good except that strip,” he said.

“If I wanted to get something like that’d I’d probably go somewhere known for the boutique stuff which is more closer to the city.”

But Doncaster shopper Bree, who didn’t give her surname, said she enjoyed the centre’s boutique outlets and thought they “make the centre look good”.

Eastland general manager Greg Balmforth said it was widespread practice for retail and leisure centres to “periodically remix” its offerings.

He said the centre was “a magnetic and evolving destination for the east” and new retailers in the corridor would be announced in the near future.

“We work closely with all our retail partners and curate our mall offerings, through relocations and remixes, in line with our mutually agreed contractual milestones,” Mr Balmforth said.

Melbourne-based jewellery and accessories store Mocha was expected to open in one of the empty spaces this weekend.