Traders and shoppers call for major revamp of Croydon’s Civic Square Shopping Centre
It’s got five empty shop spaces, hasn’t been upgraded since the early 90s and its toilets have been likened to a death trap. But a refresh could finally be coming to this run-down shopping centre in Melbourne’s east.
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Plans to revitalise Croydon’s ageing Civic Square Shopping Centre are under a cloud as shoppers and traders call for a major overhaul.
The centre, also commonly known as Arndale Shopping Centre, opened in 1986 and is home to Croydon’s Woolworths supermarket as well as the Reject Shop, a chemist and gym and 12 specialty stores.
It has five empty shop spaces and its last refurbishment is believed to have been in 1991.
Maroondah Leader understands there has been longheld plans for a new Woolworths supermarket and a new facade.
A blog post on the shopping centre’s website in July 2017 said it would get a new facade, signage and new stores later that year.
Civic Square Lotto and News manager Ashley Tan said the centre desperately needed an upgrade and traders were unsure if the long-mooted project was going ahead.
“I’ve been here a year and it’s just too quiet,” he said.
“Everyone is struggling, there’s no attraction to come here and lots of empty shops.”
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Teezers Hair manager Frank Santoro said a supermarket upgrade would give him and other traders a boost.
“If the supermarket got re-done, it’d draw people in itself, and we all feed off them,” he said.
Readers on Maroondah Leader’s Facebook page had plenty of suggestions for improvements to the centre with a green grocer, butcher and more cafes topping the list.
Many also called for new toilets at the centre with Krystyn Maree Lipp likening them to “a death trap”.
Richmond-based agency Teska Carson took over management of the centre in May.
Senior property manager Alexander Stone said the group acknowledged “the need for improvement works at the centre” and were in discussions with various parties.
Mr Stone said centre management hoped to provide details of any planned works in the coming months.
Woolworths spokesman Tim MacMillan said they would consider upgrading the Croydon supermarket, but felt a centre upgrade “is also required to ensure the overall customer experience delivers across the entire shopping centre.”
Mr MacMillian said Woolworths looked forward to further discussions with centre management.