Eastland: Baby Bunting, JD Sports to open new stores in Ringwood

Big names are set to arrive at a major shopping centre in Melbourne’s outer east, as it creates dedicated precincts for sportswear and children.

A new escalator is being built in the west mall at Ringwood's Eastland, with two sportswear retailers soon to open nearby. Picture: Kiel Egging.

One of Melbourne’s biggest shopping centres will add three big retailers in the coming months as it establishes new precincts for sportswear and children’s accessories.

Baby Bunting will open a new store at Ringwood’s Eastland, taking over space previously used by more than 10 retailers and services, and a pedestrian walkway.

One of the store’s entrances will back onto other nearby children’s retailers on the ground level including Ollie’s Place, Adairs Kids and Cotton On Kids.

Eastland general manager Greg Balmforth said Baby Bunting would open “towards the end of the year” and would anchor the centre’s children’s precinct.

All the former retailers and services in the space have been relocated to other spots in the centre, except for Maroondah Council’s Maternal Health clinic.

Leader understands the clinic was designed as a six-month pop-up, and centre management was looking to explore options with the council for a more permanent return.

Before Baby Bunting arrives, sportswear fans are in for a treat with major chain JD Sports to open mid-year.

The chain has nine other stores across Victoria and is known for its exclusive sneaker ‘drops’ including throwback models by Air Jordan and Nike.

It’ll be joined next door by Stateside Sports, which specialises in apparel by major US sporting teams.

The two stores will be located opposite fellow sportswear retailer Pivot and clothing stores Uniqlo and Dangerfield, while a new escalator being built nearby will connect shoppers to Rebel Sport on the ground level.

“With the west mall’s new escalator anticipated to be completed around the same time, we are looking forward to connecting Eastland’s athleisure offer spread over two levels in a convenient and accessible manner,” Mr Balmforth said.

Eastland management are continuing to hunt for new offerings to replace other empty spaces in the centre, including the former RM Williams store in its boutique fashion corridor on level two, and Huxtaburger’s old restaurant in the Ringwood Town Square.