[PRO] Westfield Marion

[Splashmo]

Can't be too much longer before JB hi fi and Ted's Camera store move out. Now that JB has opened at Melrose park, in a much, much larger location, I'm surprised JB still has a presence at Marion.

Probably because it's not quite as if everyone that visits Westfield Marion is going to go to Melrose Park instead. If you're like me then JB Hi-FI has never been a destination, just a place for impulse purchases whenever I'm in Rundle Mall or at Marion for that matter.

[pushbutton]

It's a destination shop for me, although I would be unlikely to go to Melrose Park to shop, because as far as I know there is no major shopping centre there, and I like to do all my shopping in major malls.

[Pikey]

Either way I'd say both tenants will be moving our from their current location at some stage. JB and Ted's doesn't exactly fit the "high end" mantra.

[Splashmo]

Either way I'd say both tenants will be moving our from their current location at some stage. JB and Ted's doesn't exactly fit the "high end" mantra.

Neither does Cheap as Chips, or JayJays, or Big W, Target or Kmart, or any other of dozens of stores.

[Ben]

Either way I'd say both tenants will be moving our from their current location at some stage. JB and Ted's doesn't exactly fit the "high end" mantra.

Neither does Cheap as Chips, or JayJays, or Big W, Target or Kmart, or any other of dozens of stores.

None of those stores are located in the new high end mall, whereas Teds and JB's are...

[Splashmo]

Either way I'd say both tenants will be moving our from their current location at some stage. JB and Ted's doesn't exactly fit the "high end" mantra.

Neither does Cheap as Chips, or JayJays, or Big W, Target or Kmart, or any other of dozens of stores.

None of those stores are located in the new high end mall, whereas Teds and JB's are...

Oh I see. Makes sense, thanks.

[Omicron]

Wait, they're serious? High-end mall? In that spot, in that condition? Hahaha!

[Pants]

I’m wondering whether they’ll do a slight re-furb of the lighting, furnishings and floor coverings along that area. They’ve done this at Chermside in Brisbane in a similar strip of what you’d call ‘high end’ stores in context of most of the other stores in the complex. As of last check in early 2009, there was a David Jones, Kookai, Saba, Witchery, French Connection, Oxford etc there. The finishes and furnishings in the common areas along that strip were nicer than the other areas of the centre. Not by much, but enough to give it a distinct feel.

[pushbutton]

I think they might, but ideally wouldn't you think they'd refurb the mall BEFORE they started putting high-end fashion in it?

[Omicron]

And wasn't the idea of the expanded first floor mall to cater for so-called high-end stores?

[pushbutton]

And wasn't the idea of the expanded first floor mall to cater for so-called high-end stores?

That was part of the intention but I think because the expansion has been delayed by so long they've just decided not to wait any longer to have these stores in the centre.

It's still possible the stores may move into the new extension when it's finally built, but that could still be at least a couple of years off so in the meantime it's probably worth putting them in the David Jones mall for now.

[Matt]

From the images I have seen Westfield London looks pretty spectacular inside and outside.

The Westfield in Shepherd's Bush looks great from the outside.

The main entrance (the one I use anyway) is dotted with alfresco style cafes on one side (the shopping centre side), and there is a promenade of two and three storey hotels, restaurants, bars, etc, on the opposite side. The first impression when you get in is 'The Village', which is the high end mall with labels. This section is stunning - very nicely done.

Over here is obviously a lot more public transport friendly thanks to the Tube, and I'd imagine most visitors would get the Underground rather than drive. Adelaide/Marion's obsession with the car doesn't help things, nor does its relative distance from a rail link. (Oaklands Park isn't 'that' far, but far enough for people to bring their car rather than lug shopping back to the station, and it's certainly too far to be a viable option for the elderly/disabled, particularly in summer).

I haven't driven to Westfield at Shepherd's Bush, but would imagine the car park is underground or was concealed by the building. Obviously this is brand new, though, so they have factored this in, whereas Marion is a mish-mash building that has been extended several times.

There's another Westfield going in at Stratford (next-door to the Olympic site) that is going to be even bigger, and probably better. It certainly looks good so far from the exterior.

[pushbutton]

If they built a monorail from Westfield Marion to Oaklands Train Station it would get more shoppers using it.

The station is really less than a 10 minute walk from the centre anyway but you do have to cross a couple of busy roads and I can't see a lot of people really wanting to do that with their shopping, kids etc. Also the route to the train station is not pedestrian friendly.

It is however a very nice brand new train station once you get there.

Westfield Marion does have a pretty good bus station right outside it.

However I think the issue of how people get to a centre is seperate from the issue of how the centre looks.

The Trafford Centre in Manchester (not a Westfield but still a large shopping mall so same things apply) is heavily dependant on cars to get most shoppers there (although again it does have a big bus station outside). However the building is without exageration an absolute architectural masterpiece both internally and externally. It is very "inward facing" which is a common complaint about Westfield centres, but still looks amazing from outside. This shows that carparks are no excuse for a shoddy looking building.

I'd say for most of the older Westfield centres aesthetics just wasn't a major consideration when they designed them unfortunately. I do think they're starting to wise up now though.

Sorry if anyone thinks this is going a bit off-topic, but the image below of the Manchester Trafford Centre does provide an example of how good a shopping mall can look. Imagine Westfield Marion looking like this (they'd have to demolish it and start again though I think)!

trafford_centre.jpg (103.64 KiB) Viewed 2935 times

[AtD]

Quite literally a temple for consumerism.

[Wayno]

Sorry if anyone thinks this is going a bit off-topic, but the image below of the Manchester Trafford Centre does provide an example of how good a shopping mall can look.

Good? me thinks not [insert vomit smilie here]