Croydon Main Street Traders Association wants to fill empty shops at Centreway Arcade

Empty shops are starting to appear in a run-down arcade next to Croydon’s new Town Square, and its traders association wants to fix the situation.

Croydon's Centreway Arcade, off Main St and next to Croydon Town Square, has three empty shop spaces. Picture: Kiel Egging.

A traders association wants to reinvigorate a “dead-looking” shopping strip in the heart of Croydon.

The Centreway Arcade runs off Main St next to the new Town Square and has three empty shop spaces. It’s home to a tattoo parlour, a nail shop, a barber and a home accessories shop — but an African hair salon and a second-hand bookstore closed earlier this year.

Croydon Main Street Traders Association spokeswoman Marta Makkai said the arcade’s empty spaces were a concern for the association.

She said they wanted to attract new traders such as a cafe, a hairdresser, a florist or speciality gift shops.

“We are happy with what we have but we want the new ones to be nice and inviting,” Ms Makkai said.

The Croydon Main Street Traders Association want to bring more ‘inviting’ shops to the Croydon Town Square. Picture: Kiel Egging.

“We already have a beautiful Town Square and it would be great if the side shops can reflect that … we want that area to bloom and be active.”

Croydon shopper Sarah, who didn’t give her surname, said she would visit the arcade more if it had shops with services she needed.

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She thought a yoga studio or a hairdresser would be good additions.

“We probably don’t need another cafe,” she said. “It’s a tricky area because its strip shopping and it's a diverse community.”

Happy Days Donuts manager Michael Rowe, who is next to the square, said he thought clothes shops could draw more shoppers to the area which could possibly benefit his shop and other nearby businesses.

Meanwhile, a special rate scheme for Main St traders will continue for another five years after it was approved by Maroondah Council.

The scheme, supported by 72 per cent of traders, means they will contribute a to-be-determined fee for promotions and events in the precinct each year.

The council has also given the traders association a $3500 cash injection for its next street art piece The Chemist.

The artwork will honour chemist Jim Burns who has traded on Main St for more than 60 years.

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