Some Chadstone stores still trading as retail restrictions tighten
Social distancing recommendations have forced the closure of most shops, but some stores are still open at Chadstone, with some shoppers saying boredom is driving them to the hugely popular shopping centre.
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High-end international fashion labels were still open for business at shopping mecca Chadstone yesterday, as almost 80 other shops and food outlets closed down.
Just Jeans, Smiggle, Portman’s and Peter Alexander will join the growing list today which also includes Zimmerman, Saba, Forever New, Adidas, Bardot and Oroton.
Shoe brands including New Balance, Novo, Aquila, Sneakerboy, Stuart Weitzman, Merchant, Sandler, Betts, Crocs and Windsor Smith were all shut yesterday.
Surf brand Osmosis, and youth labels Dangerfield, Diesel and General Pants joined designer labels including Gorman, Alice McCall, Kate Spade, Marimekko and Coach in shutting their doors.
But all the high end international labels such as Chanel, Prada, Tiffany & Co, Gucci and Balenciaga were still open, as was Louis Vuitton which was temperature testing customers before they were allowed entry.
While Premier Daniel Andrews has warned people to only leave their homes if they have to there were still shoppers at Australia’s largest shopping centre yesterday.
Sisters Emily and Ella Hickey said boredom had driven them to Chadstone.
“I have to get some new markers for my book, but that’s about it,” Emily said.
They said their parents wanted them to get some fresh air, but told them to “be a bit careful about it”.
“We’ve just got to wash our hands and stay away from people,” Ella said.
Brother and sister Leo and Catalina Kotsandis came to buy some clothes for their dad and some sports equipment and games to keep them occupied now they’re on school holidays.
“My dad needed some new clothes, he wanted us to go out and get him some new stuff before the stores close,’ Catalina said.
“We got some stuff so we’re not bored at home,” Leo said.
But Burlington Antiques employee Georgia Lockwood said she felt a bit nervous about being at the centre, suggesting that some of the people shopping now may not be concerned with following the guidelines.
“The centre is pretty good about cleanliness and we’re all pretty good about keeping our distance,” she said.
“There is that concern, some customers we’ve had have been pretty open about saying ‘Oh we got off a cruise ship recently’, so you kind of take a step back.
“I think sometimes a lot of people that come to the centres at this point are people that maybe don’t care about the virus, maybe aren’t practising such cleanliness themselves, I think that’s maybe a little bit concerning.”
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