Eastland: Group of shops close, Myer to shut Level 4 on February 13

Part of one of Melbourne’s biggest shopping centres is set for an overhaul, while one of its biggest retailers prepares to shed some space.

Mystery surrounds the next development at Eastland, with two parts of the Ringwood shopping centre set to be overhauled.

A large group of shops on the ground level next to the Commonwealth Bank branch, including a pedestrian link, were boarded up when Leader visited on Wednesday.

The area had more than 10 tenancies and was previously home to retailers including Ishka and Camera House, along with Maroondah Council’s maternal health centre, and a space for the UrStrong school friendship initiative.

The UrStrong Ninja Friendship zone at Eastland has suddenly disappeared. File picture.

Leader understands centre owners Queensland Investment Corporation’s plans for the area will be revealed in the coming weeks.

It comes as one of the centre’s major tenants is also shedding some space, with Myer axing its top level.

The 4500sq m area had been off limits for the past six months and will close for good on February 13 following a clearance sale.

Myer has moved its categories from level four, including homewares and bedding, into the space previously occupied by the Monkey Mania children’s playground on level three.

The playground closed in February 2021, less than three years after it opened in mid-2018.

“In the last year we have optimised the store which has allowed us to improve the flow and retail experience of the store and showcase our offer in the best way for our Eastland customers,” a Myer spokesman said.

“We look forward to continuing to serve the local community as we have done since 1967.”

Eastland general manager Greg Balmforth said Myer’s changes provided the centre with “a valuable opportunity to reconfigure and enhance the experiences on offer at Eastland.”

“While it is still too early to confirm specific timings or details on our plans for this space, we will keep our community updated as our plans are finalised,” he said.

It is the second shake-up which Myer has done to one of its stores in the outer east in the past 12 months.

The retailer closed its store at Westfield Knox in August after more than 40 years of trading, paving the way for the centre to commence the first stage of its long-planned redevelopment.

It will be replaced with Woolworths and ALDI supermarkets, fresh food outlets and a revamped Knox Library.