Toowoomba shopping centres welcome 24 new stores in six month-period

As the holiday season arrives across the Garden City, here are 24 stores that have recently opened or about to launch in Toowoomba’s shopping centres.

Toowoomba's shopping centres have plenty of new additions.

Toowoomba’s major shopping centres have welcomed or are set to gain 24 new stores over the next couple of months, in a boost for the city’s retail sector.

Grand Central, Clifford Gardens, Wilsonton, the Ridge and Toowoomba Plaza have all revealed their new additions that have either opened recently or are being planned in the coming months.

It will translate to potentially hundreds of new jobs during a busy period for hospitality and retail.

Many of the new businesses are being driven by a change in centre ownership, with both Wilsonton Shopping Centre and Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre being bought in recent years.

Here are the 24 new shops and when they will open/have opened:

Grand Central Shopping Centre. Architect: Buchan and fjmt.

1. GRAND CENTRAL SHOPPING CENTRE

Easily Toowoomba’s largest centre, Grand Central has seen a number of new tenancies pop up in recent months.

Now open:

- Silk Laser Clinics (August)

- Brooklyn Donuts (August)

- Mobile Experts (September)

- Sushi Party (October)

- General Pants (November)

Coming soon:

- Decjuba

- Brow Republic

Toowoomba's Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre has been bought by Elanor Investors Group, in partnership with Savills Investment Management, for $145m.

2. CLIFFORD GARDENS SHOPPING CENTRE

New owner Elanor Investors has started pumping more money into the massive centre in Newtown since it paid $145m for it in May this year.

Elanor head of retail, development and mixed use, Matt Healy, said the company planned to spend about $14m on the centre, largely to “remix” the current tenancy make-up and create new entrances next to Coles and the food court to improve accessibility.

Many of the new additions are existing tenants who have moved.

Now open:

Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic (September)

- EB Games – expansion across two shops (November)

- Specsavers – expansion across two shops (September)

Coming soon:

- Williams – existing tenant in new and improved location (December 18)

- Ric and Co – new shop in Food Court (January 1, 2022)

- Good Case - existing tenant in new location (March 3)

- PTC Tech Hub – existing tenant in expanded area (March 3)

- Bous’s For Men Barber – existing tenant in new location, December 13

- Robins Kitchen – existing tenant in new location (February 17)

Toowoomba Plaza. Photo Steve Etwell / The Chronicle

3. TOOWOOMBA PLAZA

Toowoomba’s largest centre on the southside of town is anchored by Kmart and Coles, but has a variety of speciality stores both inside and outside.

Now open:

- PTC Phone Tech (October 22)

- Windmill Bakery, employing 17 new people (November)

Coming soon:

- Kokonut Cafe and Bar, employing 10-14 staff (December 13)

The Ridge Shoppingworld in Middle Ridge. Picture: Kevin Farmer

4. THE RIDGE SHOPPINGWORLD

Toowoomba Plaza’s sister centre (due to proximity and same ownership) is anchored by Woolworths but has welcomed two new stores in recent months.

Now open:

- Urban Bakehouse (October 21)

- Un Plus Electronics (November 25)

Wilsonton Shopping Centre.

5. WILSONTON SHOPPING CENTRE

Once Toowoomba’s most maligned shopping centre, Consolidated Properties Group snapped up Wilsonton in 2019 for $50m before committing to another $38m in renovations and revamps.

Two of its upcoming tenants won’t be opening until construction is complete on the $18m second stage of the renovation.

Now open:

- Kaisercraft (August)

Coming soon:

- Starbucks (dependent on second stage, 2022)

- 7-Eleven service station (dependent on second stage, 2022)

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