Meadow Mews: New national tenant locked in for shopping centre
A Tasmanian shopping centre which has recently lost two tenants – taking its number of vacancies to four – has replenished its offering, with confirmation a national retailer is locked in. LATEST >
Launceston
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A well-known national retailer will open in a down-on-its-luck northern Tasmanian shopping centre, which currently has four vacancies following the recent abrupt exit of Donut King, next month.
Last week, the Mercury revealed Donut King had exited Meadow Mews Plaza, a shopping centre anchored by Coles supermarket in the outer-Lanceston suburb of Kings Meadows.
Donut King’s exit followed the departure of Minki Bazaar earlier this year.
Two other tenancies, a former hair salon and MyState Bank branch, had previously been vacated, taking the total number of empty shops to four.
Now, it can be revealed that Specsavers Australia will open a new outlet on May 12 in the centre. They will be located in the former MyState tenancy, located at the northern end of the centre opposite Banjo’s Bakery & Cafe.
“The store will offer both optometry and audiology services, and are excited to provide quality eye and hearing health support and services for all,” a company spokesman said.
“The team, opening initially with nine staff, will be professionally trained and qualified, and have a deep passion for eye health, ear health and the local community.”
The store will be operated by Launceston-born partner Amy Pettman, who is “excited to return to her local community”.
The Specsavers spokesman said Ms Pettman hoped to expand in future to 15 staff members.
It’s understood Ms Pettman previously operated a Specsavers store in Hobart.
The Kings Meadows store will be Tasmania’s eighth Specsavers and Launceston’s second.
The company spokesman said Specsavers had no future expansion plans in Tasmania at this stage.
FRANCHISEE ‘ABANDONS’ LEASE AS HOLE LEFT IN SHOPPING CENTRE
A popular franchise cafe in a Tasmanian shopping centre has abruptly shut, taking to four the number of retail vacancies in the centre.
It’s understood the Donut King at Meadow Mews Plaza, located in the outer Launceston suburb of Kings Meadows, closed in March.
Donut King’s departure followed on from the exit of Minki Bazaar, a home and giftware store, in January, while two other tenancies remain vacant long-term.
“Due to circumstances beyond our control Donut King Meadow Mews will be closed until further notice,” a sign on the shop counter said.
“Sam, Jack and George would like to thank all our customers, especially our regulars, for the support you have given us over the last couple of years.”
When the Mercury visited on Monday afternoon, Donut King’s drink fridges remained filled with stock. A man who identified himself as the centre manager was taking pictures of the closed business.
He said Donut King had “abandoned” its tenancy and that the centre was looking for a replacement, although it’s understood the tenancy was yet to hit the market.
He declined to comment, either about the circumstances of Donut King’s departure or efforts to secure tenants for the other three vacancies in the centre, any further.
Meadow Mews leasing agent Claude Alcorso told the Mercury that the closure illustrated the razor-thin margins small businesses operated on, more so with the ratcheting up of interest rates over the last six months.
He said the overall commercial market remained strong, however.
Mr Alcorso said the centre would have a future announcement to make on replacement tenants.
According to Donut King’s Facebook page, the franchise was taken over by brothers Sam and Jack Dean in January 2021. Attempts were made to contact the Deans via their Facebook pages.
Minki Bazaar left Meadow Mews at the end of January, according to a sign posted in its window. Minki Bazaar, located next to Natures Works, retains its store at Prospect Vale Marketplace.
The two other vacant sites are located opposite Banjo’s Bakery Cafe at the northern end of the centre, and next to Just Jeans in the middle.
Meadows Mews is anchored by a Coles supermarket and contains approximately 28 specialty stores, including EB Games, Williams Shoes, Rockmans, Australia Post, Cellarbrations and Meadow Mews Newsagency.
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