#Brisbane: Queens Plaza - Stage 1

[JayT]

About time someone started a thread on Queens Plaza. The buildings are comming down and things are a happening!

For those who don't know Queens Plaza is a massive new shopping centre re-development with 3 street frontages. Queen, Edward and Adelaide streets all have frontages to this development, probably the biggest CBD shopping centre in Brisbane.

Does anyone have a rendering of the development as it is being designed by the same architects who designed a CBD shopping Centre in San Diego California.

The development as far as I know will also include a New David Jones, twice the size of the current one, and an underground Taxi terminus.

More information on this development wanted please as the Council does not have information on it anymore, because construction has started or so they tell me.

Personally I find this development one of the most interesting in Brisbane CBD because it is so central, takes up a very large area and will ipact on many people the same way the Myer Centre does.

JayT

[Fountainhead]

It is the great mystery project of the CBD. There have been no renderings released to the public yet, and I don't think they will until the site demolition is complete. There was a pretty average render on the site ages ago, but that was the old scheme designed by McKerril Lynch (who did the macarthur shopping centre). It has been redesigned since with different srchitects and a different client. The architects are RTKL, a large american practice, and PDT, who are their local associated architects. BTW, the underground taxi rank is no longer a part of it, as it was the most controversial part of the original planning application - every taxi driver in brisbane hated the idea, and I think they are right. I would hate to see a huge series of ramps on edward street - it would destroy the street identity.

There are 2 stages - stage 1 is the new building and stage 2 is the refurbishment of david jones's existing store when they relocate to the new part of the complex.

keep an eye on:

www.gandel.com.au
www.pdt.com.au
www.rtkl.com

for more information coming up........hopefully soon:)

[Mr MacPhisto]

Wow, I had no idea the development had been redesigned.
Very interesting....

[zztopless]

Its a shame that there isn't super-tall going in here, as the site is huge, one of the largest un-used sites stil left in the heart of the Brisbane CBD.

[chrisaus]

i expect giant TV's and massive billboards etc.. for this development:D
they have the potential to build and bloody awsome centre on such a prime/large site

[ray]

Hope the shopping centre is really nice, at the end of the day I ain't going to be living in no tower above it so the centre means more to me.

[chrisaus]

i know what you mean about the ramps
i thought the bus ramps into the bus tunnel looked really ugly/crap and noisy etc.. and divided the street up abit
also there seemed to be alot of cafes on albert street right near the tunnel entry whats not the most attractive thing to look at
it would be nice to see the tunnel extended and the mall fully enlosed east-west right up to adelaide and elizebeth streets [i think there the ones]

[Fountainhead]

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by zztopless </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Its a shame that there isn't super-tall going in here, as the site is huge, one of the largest un-used sites stil left in the heart of the Brisbane CBD.</td></tr>
</table>

There is a height limit of about 5 storeys on the queen street mall, so that there is plenty of sunlight in the mall. I think on Edward and Adelaide, the height limit is relaxed but I would not be surprised if there are controls on overshadowing the mall, which would limit height.

[Rusty]

chrisaus, it sounds like you've become a Brisbane fan boy.

[madmax]

Is Queens Plaza related to Queens Square? Help me... I'm confused.

[hoffburger]

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by madmax </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Is Queens Plaza related to Queens Square? Help me... I'm confused.</td></tr>
</table>

to my knowledge they are not related at all, correct me if im wrong. i really think they should use some more imagination when naming these projects. to many queens for one city

[BrizzyChris]

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>i expect giant TV's and massive billboards etc.. for this development:D
they have the potential to build and bloody awsome centre on such a prime/large site</td></tr>
</table>
Unlikely, since this particular centre is meant to be very classy and upmarket. Too bad, it would be a great place to have some big jumbotrons. :)

[JayT]

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by hoffburger </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by madmax </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Is Queens Plaza related to Queens Square? Help me... I'm confused.</td></tr>
</table>

to my knowledge they are not related at all, correct me if im wrong. i really think they should use some more imagination when naming these projects. to many queens for one city</td></tr>
</table>
A city can never have too many Queens:D

jt

[hoffburger]

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by JayT </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by hoffburger </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by madmax </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Is Queens Plaza related to Queens Square? Help me... I'm confused.</td></tr>
</table>

to my knowledge they are not related at all, correct me if im wrong. i really think they should use some more imagination when naming these projects. to many queens for one city</td></tr>

</table>
A city can never have too many Queens:D

jt</td></tr>
</table>

i expected you to come back with something like that ;)

[nagelixin]

National Nine News had renderings on the news last night. Doesn't look too bad.... I feel sorry for the Pig'n'Whistle at the bottom of the mall. I can see business sliding over the next few years - all that construction noise.

[hoffburger]

lord mayor jim reckons that brisbane is going to be a shopping destination for overseas visitors. they likened it to singapore

[JayT]

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by nagelixin </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>National Nine News had renderings on the news last night. Doesn't look too bad.... I feel sorry for the Pig'n'Whistle at the bottom of the mall. I can see business sliding over the next few years - all that construction noise.</td></tr>
</table>

So, what was it like??

jt

[BrizzyChris]

It doesn't really seem that different from the original proposal, just a bit more classy. I think they're making it out to be something bigger than it will ever be. Rival Singapore? Yeah right.

[oztraelian]

I happen to work @ the venue where this launch was held. Unfortunately I dont own a digital camera, for otherwise I would have kept my good forumers informed. Should I aqquire one, I'll be sure to take a picture of that bunker (which will accomodate 4-5 levels of u/g parking).

The render depicted a centre of 4 levels, and was Ok looking. Probably the most interesting thing was that the Shingle Inn (taken apart recently) will be reassembled brick by brick, thereby skirting heritage legislato. I can only assume this meticulous process is responsible for the 2006 completion date.

_______________________________________________
Whats all this about Brisbane Rivalling Singapore? You need to offer DISCOUNTS and PIRATED GOODS to rival singapore.

Ole Jimbo's become quite an embarassment. Should've refused him entry. Even better, the grimacing prick could be held under house arrest!

[nagelixin]

I would say it is a mix of Macarthur Central and Westfield Bondi Junction. The interior rendor looked alright. I recall that they had 'pub' on the first floor - corner of Queen/Edward.

[chrisaus]

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by hoffburger </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>lord mayor jim reckons that brisbane is going to be a shopping destination for overseas visitors. they likened it to singapore</td></tr>
</table>

pfft thats the biggest load of crap i have heard in some time, sounds like something jayt would say
i mean this project is only adding 95 shops, have you ever been to orchad ave.....

[hoffburger]

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by chrisaus </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by hoffburger </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>lord mayor jim reckons that brisbane is going to be a shopping destination for overseas visitors. they likened it to singapore</td></tr>
</table>

pfft thats the biggest load of crap i have heard in some time, sounds like something jayt would say
i mean this project is only adding 95 shops, have you ever been to orchad ave.....</td></tr>
</table>

hehe yeah i know, i found it amusing too when i heard it. Jim comes out with some funny shit sometimes

[chrisaus]

has the target been demolished ? if so are they building a new store as part of the development ?


afr article on the project
http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?threadid=27492

[duke]

Demolition work today, taken from Chill on Queen in MacArthur Central.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay/queensplaza2.JPG

[Mr MacPhisto]

Thanks to Duke and BrissyThomas for their pics in alot of Brisbane threads these past few weeks.

Off topic, pardon the pun, but how "cool" is Chill on Queen?
An icy bar, ice in buckets and those awesome ergonomically designed stools and chairs.
It's not the cheapest bar in town (and it's still pretty quiet), but it is a nice cool place (temperature wise) to sit back and watch the sport on the plasma screens.

[duke]

We went to Chill for lunch today and were pleasantly surprised. The glass panels on the awnings below seem to deflect most of the road noise and overall its a lot more pleasant than the normal pavement dining experience - plus an excellent view of Queens Plaza!

[nagelixin]

Chill is great!!!! :D

Expierence something hot, every Thursday night!

Starts at 7pm with a Salsa dance instructor and a groovy live band.

$10 per peson, includes a frozen cocktail, dance tuition and all night dancing.

A group of 4 or more will receive a free bottle of champers.

[Orodreth]

http://www.propertyoz.com.au/qld/Newsletter/QLD/Feb_28/queens_plaza.jpg
Design elements include:

glass projection boxes over Queen Street Mall and over the Adelaide and Edward Streets corner, which are designed to be active retail spaces;
vertical glass panelling between the new and existing buildings;
multi-level atrium with signature ceiling and flooring treatments;
cantilevered awnings and sunshades;
black granite column facades anchored at ground level;
two large entries that create a social link to major pedestrian thoroughfares


http://www.propertyoz.com.au/qld/Newsletter/QLD/Feb_28/queens_plaza.htm

[Fountainhead]

here are some more images from PDT architects website.....

http://www.pdt.com.au/expertise/retail.cfm

http://www.pdt.com.au/zone_files/RetailProjects/qp-main_big.jpg

http://www.pdt.com.au/zone_files/RetailProjects/qp-per-2-qstreet_big.jpg

http://www.pdt.com.au/zone_files/RetailProjects/qp-int-ground_big.jpg

http://www.pdt.com.au/zone_files/RetailProjects/qp-per-3-qstreet_big.jpg

http://www.pdt.com.au/zone_files/RetailProjects/qp-per-qstreet_big.jpg

http://www.pdt.com.au/zone_files/RetailProjects/qp-per-qstreet-estreet_big.jpg

QueensPlaza, Brisbane's largest CBD retail development for close to two decades, will feature an innovative combination of sandstone finishes, black granite, polished concrete and multi-dimensional glazing as it emerges from a huge site that boasts Queen Street Mall, Edward Street and Adelaide Street frontages.


The 8,400 square metre site presented an unrivalled opportunity to create a world-class retail environment which, through design and retail configuration, would re-energise and excite CBD customers, while at the same time matching the craftsmanship and elegance of surrounding historic buildings.

The design brief for both ourselves, and Los-Angeles based retail concept architects, RTKL Associates, was to create a landmark building with interesting and visually interactive features, while simultaneously creating presence through features other than building mass alone.

Design elements include:


glass projection boxes over Queen Street Mall and over the Adelaide and Edward Streets corner, which are designed to be active retail spaces;
vertical glass panelling between the new and existing buildings;
multi-level atrium with signature ceiling and flooring treatments;
cantilevered awnings and sunshades;
black granite column facades anchored at ground level;
two large entries that create a social link to major pedestrian thoroughfares.
Valued at approximately $300 million, QueensPlaza will comprise five levels of retail space above four levels of parking and loading dock facilities.

[chrisaus]

any more renderings & construction updates ?

[duke]

Just a very big and deep hole with perimeter retaining walls at this stage!

[duke]

Photo from today. The only way the machinery down there will be coming out is by crane!

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay/13julqueensplaza1.JPG

Another shot showing how deep the site excavation is.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay/13julqueensplaza2.JPG

[nagelixin]

It's amazing how far they have dug down. As Gandel are building it (who own the Myer Centre) I hope that they realise the mistakes of the Myer Centres parking and lifts. I know they didn't build the centre but the lifts are a shambles there!

[kaleb777]

Walked past there today. The hole is enormous, deeper than Casino Tower. If it's only going to be 4 levels above ground then it's either going to have shit loads of sub-car parking or some underground shopping levels. Maybe it will have both like Myer. There was still a lot of digging noise going on so they are going deeper.

There's no picture of the development on the surrounding fence but there are several observation windows. Still nothing but a hole to look at.

I guess prices will be fairly high unless they rely on turnover from the enormous pedestrian traffic numbers walking from Central Station to the mall. If I was running the place I would try to attract pedestrian traffic through the centre from Adelaide St which won't be hard with (what I believe is) Brisbane's only diagonal crossing. Currently the adjacent corners have a 7Eleven on each of them.

[duke]

The observation windows were attracting lots of attention today. Excavation work was still underway although they seem to be concentrating on levelling out which suggests that it has reached its full depth.

[JayT]

Yep - its deep!

jt

[duke]

Large article about Queen's Plaza in the Prime Site section of the Courier Mail today. The excavation is 22 metres deep.

[Danubis]

Originally posted by duke
Large article about Queen's Plaza in the Prime Site section of the Courier Mail today. The excavation is 22 metres deep.

the article is huge and dosnt say anything we dont allready know, just how 'exciting it is' and 'how good it will be for brisbane'.

it does say that all the major construction work for the carpark will be done at night, and that the entire project will be spaced out over three years to minimise disruption to the CBD.

also, interesting to not that they cant use a crane in the construction cause council wont allow them room on adelaide, george or queen street... should be interesting to see how they will get around this...

[JayT]

New Crane!!!
A nice new watpac crane has been positioned on the Queens Plaza site.

looks good.
jt

[kentstewart84]

Can I ask why an observatory tower like the AMP Tower in Sydney or Space Needle in Seattle wasn’t considered to be built on top of Queens Plaza? I really think it would be neat if Brisbane had something like that right in the CBD with views of Brisbane’s buildings and sites. It just seems like a waste of space just for a shopping centre. If they’re spending $300 million +, what’s an extra $30 million for a landmark tower?? Oh well…. Anybody else agree?

[BrizzyChris]

Only if it looked like Auckland's Skytower. :)

[nagelixin]

Which street will the car park ramps be on for this site??

[GMAC]

The ramps will have to be on Edward St as Adelaide St is part of the bus station along this side of the site. There is the possibility that they will extend the exit or entry ramps to another location like they did with the Albert St exit of the Myer Centre.

[nagelixin]

Centre offers new era of shopping
Madeline Healy
22sep03
A HOLE 23m below street level is all that is left of the seven buildings which took up the prime inner city site at Queen, Edward and Adelaide streets.

Demolition of the buildings, which included removing 200,000cu m of material, has finished and construction is starting on the $300 million QueensPlaza project.

Four levels of basement parking for 600 cars and a five-level retail centre will fill the hole by 2004 – but that is only half the job.

Stage two of the project, which is expected to be finished by 2006, includes the redevelopment and refurbishment of adjacent buildings, currently occupied by David Jones.

When the development is finished, QueensPlaza will offer 36,000sq m of retail space including a food-and-convenience precinct.

Another 3500sq m of commercial space will be on the upper floors of the refurbished part of the existing David Jones building.

While the hole will gradually disappear during the next few months, shoppers have at least another 12 months to wait before stepping inside.

QueensPlaza development manager Bill Deane said the demolition was complete and evacuation works were nearly finished, allowing the start of construction.

David Jones will take up most of the space, about 27,000sq m, and there will 90 speciality shops, a supermarket, coffee shop and a bistro.

Developer Gandel Group's chairman John Gandel said the new centre would feature a combination of sandstone finishes, black granite and polished concrete.

"The design brief . . . was to create a landmark building with interesting and visually interactive features," he said.

Glass boxes will be built over the Queen Street Mall to be used as retail spaces, glass paneling will link new and existing buildings and there will be a multi-level atrium.

Mr Gandel said the development would be "fashion and style-led – the equivalent to major inner city centres in Sydney and Melbourne".

"Queen Street Mall is already one of the most successful retail malls in Australia with estimated sales of around $800 million per annum," he said.

[duke]

Photos taken today.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay3/12octbrisplaza1.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay3/12octbrisplaza2.JPG

[BrizzyChris]

I got an idea. Queens Plaza + Water = Best Swimming Pool Ever! :)

[felix]

i went passed this site the other day and I couldn't believe how deep it is in such short period of time.

[duke]

Here's a couple of photos taken yesterday.

Excavation on the site is just about complete. What I couldn't get a shot of is the conveyer belt that moves the excavated materials from the bottom of the hole up to street level.

I was talking to a guy who works on this site and he told me that the two cranes from the Macarthur office tower (one of which was being dismantled yesterday) are to be relocated to Queens Plaza site.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay3/15novqueensplaza1.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay3/15novqueensplaza2.JPG

[FAVELLE]

2nd crane has been erected,i think once Watpacs last crane from macarthur tower is pulled down it should be replacing S.E.C.As favco which is the white & black crane in about a month or so.:)

[JayT]

Originally posted by FAVELLE
2nd crane has been erected,i think once Watpacs last crane from macarthur tower is pulled down it should be replacing S.E.C.As favco which is the white & black crane in about a month or so.:)

2nd Crane??????

Today there were 3 large tower cranes in place. The latest is a big blue Watpac crane near the QSM side.

jt

[FAVELLE]

there are only 2 tower cranes on site one is owned by watpac and 1 is owed by s.e.c.a. a crane hire company which also owns both cranes on riparian,the 2 on the magistrates court,the 2 at southbank,the 2 at west end,the 2 soon to be 3 at parklands and numerous others around brissy i think you have confused the concrete pumping boom which is sitting on a crane tower for an actual tower crane.:)

[MajikShoe]

JayT is right, there are definately 3 cranes on site - 2 blue/white ones (look just like the one on McArthur) and the black and white one that was there for a while. The second blue one was put there on the weekend.

[FAVELLE]

my mistake:D

[nagelixin]

Work in David Jones has stepped up a notch. 1/2 of the basement floor is closed, and several of the elevators are also closed.

The 'Chatters' cafe is still open downstairs though! :angel1:

[duke]

A couple of photos taken today.

Comparing these with the photos I took in October shows how quickly they are filling the massive hole.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay2/07feb04plaza1.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay2/07feb04plaza2.JPG

[Ausilencer]

Yeah that hole is getting filled fairly quickly. I walked past there today and they've done some more work on the same floor as the one in the photo. Hopefully they'll be moving on to the next one in a couple of weeks.

[duke]

Photo taken today. Still filling that hole in!

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay2/12mar04queensplaza1.JPG

[duke]

Photos taken today. Top of columns are now almost at street level.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay2/27mar04queensplaza1.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay2/27mar04queensplaza2.JPG

[duke]

Work has now commenced on formwork for street level slab. Article from Sunday Mail today.

What's going on in there?
FLEUR MADDEN
04apr04

IT'S been a source of intrigue for City workers for almost 18 months.

The 23m-deep hole on the corner of Queen, Edward and Adelaide streets in Brisbane is slowly being filled with a massive retail development.
And when the $300 million QueensPlaza project is complete it will boast 36,000sq m of shopping space – the equivalent of seven football ovals.

The wait will be over for shoppers when the complex's first stage is opened in time for the Christmas rush.

The four levels of basement parking for 600 cars are finished and builder Watpac Australia is forming and pouring the lower-ground level.

QueensPlaza development manager Bill Deane said the project was on track.

"There have been some difficult times when you are digging a hole that big, but it is going along OK," he said.

Seven buildings, including the home of the historic Shingle Inn tea rooms, were demolished and 200,000 cubic metres of material was removed to make way for the shopaholic's haven.

Stage 1 will include four levels of car parking and five levels of shops – but that's only half the job.

Stage 2 to be completed by early 2006, will see the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Queen St David Jones.

An additional 3500sq m of commercial precinct will fill the upper floors of the refurbished David Jones building.

David Jones will be the primary retailer in the QueensPlaza, occupying 27,000sq m of space. Coles Express will anchor the food precinct and negotiations are under way with specialty retailers for the 90 smaller shops.

The chairman of developer Gandel Group, John Gandel, said that given the reputation of David Jones, QueensPlaza would have a strong upper-end fashion theme.

"While it will also encompass a supermarket and other related retailers, these will be provided more for customer convenience," Mr Gandel said.

He said the development would be "the equivalent to major inner-city centres in Sydney and Melbourne, while still retaining a distinctly Queensland identity".

[nsn]

Can anyone tell me, does the Queen St David Jones have a foodhall? If not, is the new store going to?

[Orfeo]

^^^^
David Jones doesn't have a food hall (it has a cafe though). I doubt the new store/extension will have food court because there will in the non-DJs part of Queens Plaza.

[nsn]

I don't mean a food court - I mean a Foodhall, like David Jones in Market St Sydney or Bondi Junction has (apologies if you knew what I was talking about, just thought I'd clarify). All the new metropolitan DJs stores have them: Adelaide, Perth, Bourke St (soon to be refurbished), and the two I have already mentioned. I believe Chadstone and Glen Waverley stores in Vic also have them. They sell quality packaged foods and fresh produce and cheeses and the like, but also have a number of eateries like a coffee bar, oyster bar and panini bar. Given that every other metro store will have one, I'm just surprised if there's no plan for Queen St to have one.

[nagelixin]

From what I have been told DJs will have a food hall when it returns to its existing site in 2006.

[Orfeo]

Sorry, i thought you meant an actual food court, as some American department stores have. I'm quite sure DJ's currently has one but it's rather small, or it was when i last visited. I would think that a larger one will be built.

[NCC1701D]

No, it has never had a food hall but it is getting one with the renovations and new store.

[nagelixin]

There was a *very small* food section, but nothing cold (like fish etc). Mainly chocolates, coffee etc

[Orfeo]

edit: i give up.

[nagelixin]

Orfeo - the new store will have this in 2006.

[chrisaus]

how much will the david jones part of the development cost? I remember the david jones stores was quite nice in a historic building. has that coles express been demolshed fronting I think it was edward street as part of the development?

[Muse]

Poor Orfeo lol.

I'm wondering how much, if any of the original DJ's facade is left on either side. I remember calling in and asking @ the info desk (like they would know!!) & was told that the Queen St side would be retained :?

[nagelixin]

Queen Street side will be retained. 2 of the old elevators will remain as these I was told are heritage listed or something.

[Danubis]

Queen Street side will be retained. 2 of the old elevators will remain as these I was told are heritage listed or something.

I think some of the Perfume Counter staff are heritage listed aswell... stupid skanky bitches

as eddy would say -

*you only work in a shop...so you can drop the attitude*

[jellyman]

construction is now at ground floor

[nagelixin]

For a great view of the site try the retail bridge between David Jones and the Wintergarden. This way you do not have to look through the stupid holes in the fence!

[JayT]

I noticed this morning that the pillars are being build and also there are new wall type structures going up along the mall.

jt

[duke]

The wall Jayt referred to is a protective screen. Here's a couple of photos taken yesterday.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay2/13may04queensplaza1.JPG

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay2/13may04queensplaza2.JPG

[Aussie Bhoy]

Great pictures Duke, promote yourself to King mate, in this thread and others you really help out with the pictures you take.

I never realised until these pictures just how big this project was, I can't believe all of those buildings there are gone. The old Coles Cafeteria, the Shingle Inn Cafe, I remember going to them as a kid.

[Ausilencer]

Took nagelixin's advice and went up to the bridge-thing. Here's a couple of shots. I'm only on dial-up, so originals will have to stay on my comp until that changes... I'm putting them up in 640x480, is that ok? I'm new to this whole upload images thing...

http://img68.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/Img_0270.jpg
http://img68.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/Img_0271.jpg
http://img68.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/Img_0272.jpg

[Aussie Bhoy]

Good pictures, they have come out fine Ausilencer

[duke]

Great photos Ausilencer. Nice vantage point.

640x480 is fine by me. I take all of mine at 1280x1024 then shrink them by 50% to save on my webspace, plus bigger photos take too long to load and require you to scroll to see the whole thing.

[duke]

Photo taken today. An extra two lanes of Edward Street are closed off. Looks like they may be working on exit and entry ramps for car park.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/johnthay2/30may04plaza1.JPG

[Ausilencer]

Here's some shots of Queens Plaza taken yesterday. It's moving along...

From the bridge over the mall:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/QueensPlaza_20040811_1024x768_01.jpg

Looking down Edward street - sorry it was a bit blurry, I didn't realise when I took the shot and didn't take another one.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/QueensPlaza_20040811_768x1024_02.jpg

Looking at it near the corner of Adelaide and Edward streets:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/QueensPlaza_20040811_1024x768_03.jpg

Looking at it on Edward street:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/QueensPlaza_20040811_1024x768_04.jpg

Approaching the mall looking from near GPO and BOQ Tower (MacArthur):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/QueensPlaza_20040811_1024x768_05.jpg

Corner Queen and Edward Street:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/QueensPlaza_20040811_1024x768_06.jpg

[duke]

City News today reports that plans to finish stage one of Queens Plaza by Christmas this year have fallen through. Will now open in January 2005. Final stage of the $100 million project is scheduled for completion by December 2005. Car park will hold more than 600 cars.

[nagelixin]

Gandel would not be happy at all with this. They would have lost a major trade window to launch the new centre.


Brisbane News Online (http://www.brisbanenews.com.au/)
You can now read the City News online. Note at the moment it is not up to date, grab a copy or check the website in a few days

[Oriolus]

Little help please. My question concerns Jetset House.
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=108573

From what I can gather it is located on the site of Queens Plaza - it wasn't demolished was it - I can't find any mention of it. If not where exactly is Jetset House and what was demolished for Queens Plaza?

[andy77aus]

I thought jet set house was on the next block up, next to the Palace backpackers.

[Blend]

nothings been on this site for a long time. Jetset house is not on that site to answer your question, its further up edward St like andy said

[GMAC]

All that was on this site was shops, I think it was called Queen St Central or something like that, it had Coles Express and Target which have both now moved into the Myer Centre plus some street front shops in crappy old buildings.

[Blend]

^^ yes. had like a australia touristy shop... and a bunch of those crappy types of things.

[nagelixin]

Coles Central is expected to return to this site next year when the first stage opens.

[hoffburger]

Coles Central is expected to return to this site next year when the first stage opens.

hopefully that god awful deli smell wont return with it. it always seemed to smell ten times worse in summer too

[Gertzy]

The last time I was in Brisbane, It was just a hole in the ground with the white crane in the middle of it. Now its about two or three levels (Looking at the pics) and with the addition of Three more Cranes. How big is it anyway.

[Ausilencer]

Installing an escalater - photos taken yesterday.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/Img_0473_small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v206/Ausilencer/Img_0477_small.jpg

[JayT]

Been watching this center for a few weeks now - its bigger than I thought. How high is each floor in this thing??? You could fly a plane in side it!!

Its Massive!

BTW - excellent shots Ausilencer.

jt

[Gertzy]

Wow, I've never seen it been done like that before. Yet again. Multiple story shoppings centre don't get built in Townsville, let alone with a crane. The Esculator is Huge. It is massive.

[Favco750]

We lifted all the escaltors into Macarthur Central the exact same way, but with 10t chainblocks in each side of the rigging gear to be able to manipulate the angle as it approached the well it would sit in.

[Gertzy]

Cool, Favco. Um whats your occupation at the moment.

[Favco750]

same, but with mobile cranes as well as tower cranes. more rigging than just dogging work.

[OZZY NICK]

I like this building - its another sign that Brisbane is becoming a very cosmopilitan city, you know with coffee shops and fashion boutiques - any idea of the shops that are going in this one - i hope they follow in the footsteps of the Macarther Centre - with Polo - Ralph Lauren - Morissey etc

[Danubis]

david jones will be major tenant.

[Gaz4007]

Queens Plaza will have high end boutiques. And just a bit of triv - Starbucks closed their Edward St shop and will open a new one in Queens plaza. I think they own the old space and will rent it out.

[Danubis]

lol @ starbucks being highend

[OZZY NICK]

Starbucks hey? - cooool - When I was walking down Queen Street the other day I thought I saw an ESPIRIT sign in the render of the building on the sorrounding fence - any idea what other specialty stores are going in this place?

[Gaz4007]

there's talk of a Gucci and another Louis Vuitton etc - and maybe a "Just Jeans" for highend Danubis!

[Danubis]

oooh a louis vuitton... ive got a lv wallet... its my pride and joy i love being a victim

[nagelixin]

French Connection (FCUK) will be opening its first QLD store in Queens Plaza too.

[OZZY NICK]

WOW - it seems its gonna become Brisbane's answer to Sydney's Queen Victoria Building, good to see Brisbane getting all these cool shops.
any idea of how many shops this thing can fit?

[Muse]

All that info is on the previous pages, but a summary from page 3:

When the development is finished, QueensPlaza will offer 36,000sq m of retail space including a food-and-convenience precinct.

Another 3500sq m of commercial space will be on the upper floors of the refurbished part of the existing David Jones building.

David Jones will take up most of the space, about 27,000sq m, and there will 90 speciality shops, including a supermarket etc.

**Wouldn't really compare it to The QVB. There are upmarket stores there but no upmarket chains. They are all on and around Castlereagh St. More like your one-off store upmarket merchandise. Ground/lower-ground floors of The QVB with its Just Jeans and Starfucks would be the same, but they're everywhere.

New pics please :)

[Danubis]

I remember going to some shop on the upper level of QVB and i had to line up to be let in... they only let a couple of people in at a time... i dont think brisbane will ever get 'that' high end

[Blend]

i would hope that never happened here.

[OZZY NICK]

lol - thanks for clearing that up - Blend i'm interested - why do you hope nothing like that ever comes to Brisbane?

[Blend]

i dont mind the stores being here but if its gonna invite the stuck up class of people i dont want it. Queueing to get into high class stores seems to show that to me

[Danubis]

you obviously have never been to a one of those line up shops... they're fabulous... you dont want to mingle with those tragic 18yo girls from the burbs called 'shazza' simply foul

[JayT]

there's talk of a Gucci and another Louis Vuitton etc - and maybe a "Just Jeans" for highend Danubis!

Gucci is in Surfers Paradise - but one in Brisbane would be nice. Though you can by Gucci stuff at many other high end retail outlets.

jt

[JayT]

I remember going to some shop on the upper level of QVB and i had to line up to be let in... they only let a couple of people in at a time... i dont think brisbane will ever get 'that' high end

They could convert the old NAB or Westpack buildings into oldish "high end" exclusive shopping centers.

jt

[BrizzyChris]

you obviously have never been to a one of those line up shops... they're fabulous... you dont want to mingle with those tragic 18yo girls from the burbs called 'shazza' simply foul
Please tell me you're joking!

[Ausilencer]

Blend - I'm with you on this shop discussion - shops where you have to line up?! I don't think so!! (well, I hope not anyway)

[jellyman]

the only line up store I've been at was a butcher on the north side where we all queued for half an hour to buy a meat tray for $20 with around 10kg on it. The guy handing out the trays actually got annoyed because we were being orderly and not pushing and shoving enough.

[Gaz4007]

That's brillant! lol!!! I think the butcher is the ONLY store you should line up for. Yes yes Queens Plaza will be nice and have some nice shops but there will never be a snob queue - thank god for that. I think Queens Plaza will be good for the tourists who want to shop, with the new cruise terminal etc there will be those like minded people. Brisbane i suppose does need more variety.

[Blend]

http://tinypic.com/lcd1z

From a DA that this shop put in to BCC for facade changing on a building or somehting.

[Blend]

http://www.artresources.com.au/projects/untitled.html

[Blend]

Queens Plaza lures luxury brands
By Lisa Southgate

Brisbane is to get its first Tiffany jewellery shop in a major leasing coup for one of the CBD’s newest retail projects, the $300 million Queens Plaza development, owned by CFS Gandel Retail Trust.

Gandel is also believed to be in negotiations with Prada and Gucci to drop into a showcase of trophy tenants planned for the development on the corner of Queen, Adelaide and Edward streets. The Tiffany tenancy is believed to be locked in. It would only be the jeweller’s third outlet in Australia. Tiffany & Co has premises on Castlereagh Street in Sydney and Collins Street in Melbourne.

The luxury brand tenancies would give Gandel added cache in a market already packed with optimism and bullish rental prices –particularly on the Queen Street Mall, which, in total, turns over an estimated $1 billion per annum. While rents on the Mall are a jealously guarded secret, retailer the Sunglass Hut is believed to have recently renewed its 60 to 70 square metre tenancy at $7800 a square metre – a price in the territory of rents achieved in Sydney’s Pitt Street. Figures recorded with Brisbane’s promotional body, Brisbane Marketing, quote an average median rental in Queen Street Mall at between $3000 and $6000 per square metre. The same data records averages in Pitt Street at $6000.

However, rents vary widely between tenancies. Market sources say recent rental prices achieved include new Optus on the Mall premises, at a bullish $4000 per square metre rate; the new Suncorp bank retail premises, at $2500 per square metre; a Tempt clothing retail tenancy, for $1800 per square metre and a Valley Girl clothing retail outlet tenancy at $1000 per square metre. Brisbane Marketing says bullish rents are driven by the quality of new stock. “Another point is that the previously soft streets in the Brisbane CBD, like Elizabeth Street and Edward Street, are performing strongly now,” says Brisbane Marketing’s downtown manager, Liliana Montague.

LandMark White national director of research, Jennelle Wilson, believes the Queens Plaza development will test the market, resulting in a slowing of rental growth over the next 12 to 18 months.


16 August 2004

[Orfeo]

Louis Vuitton, Tiffanys, Prada, Gucci, FCUK...what else ? :) I guess the argument that Brisbane isn't ready for such things, or maybe doesn't need them, i being ignored. I can't see myself as a very supportive client though.

I hadn't seen the second render from the site, and wasn't expecting an escalator in that corner of the building. But it seems a great idea and will probably pick up heaps of traffic pouring across the road from Central Station.

[bribri]

It is interesting to see the spread of retailers in the mall with high end down the Edward St end. ie.David Jones, the stores mentioned above and the current stores on Edward St. Compare that to the low end stores towards George St. ie. Myer, Target and the whole Myer Centre.

[GMAC]

I think Brisbane will have no problem supporting these shops, I know alot of people who give a shit about this sought of designer labels. And there is an increasing number of people with money to spare in this city.

[nagelixin]

It's good to see Brisbane growing up, as for these 'brand' stores - about time. I agree with Gandel wanting something different, and to cater for all tastes. Why build another Myer Centre?

Timing for the opening of Queens Plaza may also tie in with the redevelopments of a dining area (again) for Level 3 in the Wintergarden.

[hoffburger]

brands shmands, give me a bonds tshirt, jeans and a pair of pluggers and im set.

more good news for the city though

[OZZY NICK]

lol - from the second picture in Blend's link up the top of the page, it has a big Aussie flag diagonally slopped accross Edward Street. Is this part of the design ? I hope so - I like such signs of patriotism. :)

[OZZY NICK]

http://www.artresources.com.au/projects/untitled.html

- the second picture - is the flag actually going to be erected?

[Malt]

I dont see the big deal about that flag lol. I dont see why they woulldnt put it up

[OZZY NICK]

lol - there is no big deal - Im just curious.

[Malt]

A D/A was submitted on the 14th for a Witchery fashion (www.witchery.com and www.witchery.com.au) store to open in queens plaza. (Looks like its turning into a fashion/expensive place)

Alone with the DA they submitted a plan of 1 level of the centre.

http://img157.exs.cx/img157/5465/qnzplzawithery7kt.jpg

[GMAC]

Wow, I didnt realise DJs would lose its Mall entry but it makes so much more sense, and opens up much more street shopping. You can see in to the round bit from the mall and its all looking very good.

[nagelixin]

Other news...
Brisbanes first 'Sumo Salad' will be in Queens Plaza. (Just imagine the MYO store with salads)

Sumo Salad Website (http://www.sumosalad.com/)

[SteV]

Does anyone have a current list of shops that will be tenanting the new Queensplaza?

[nagelixin]

No web name has been bought for this centre. The standard GRM website would be centreshopping.com.au.

www.Queensplazashopping.com.au
www.queensplaza.com.au

Are both still available.
__________________________

As for stores:

David Jones
Witchery
Prada
Gucci
Tiffany & co
FCUK
Sumo Salad
(all from posts in this thread :) )

[Malt]

i checked queensplaza.com a while ago and its owned by them.

On another note, theyre digging up that underground taxi pickup ramp on Edward street.. i thought they werent going to do that?

[GMAC]

What underground taxi pickup ramp on Edward St? Where is that?

[Malt]

i know what you mean about the ramps
i thought the bus ramps into the bus tunnel looked really ugly/crap and noisy etc.. and divided the street up abit
also there seemed to be alot of cafes on albert street right near the tunnel entry whats not the most attractive thing to look at
it would be nice to see the tunnel extended and the mall fully enlosed east-west right up to adelaide and elizebeth streets [i think there the ones]


^^^^

If u read thru the first few pages u will see various comments about it.

[Malt]

A D/A has been submitted for a new store in the Queen St entrance (on the layout above it is in 'TGL - 19,20'. I honestly dont know what Fossil is.. but yeah..

to update Nagelixin's list of stores:

David Jones
Witchery
Prada
Gucci
Tiffany & co
FCUK
Sumo Salad
Fossil [New]

[GMAC]

Malt, my appologies, I had forgotten about the underground taxi rank since it hasnt been discussed since the second post. I think you will find that what they are likely to be digging up is the carpark entry and exit ramps which you can see on the map you posted above.

Also, I have heard of Fossil, cant exactly remember but I think its accessories like jewellery and bags and watches.

[Malt]

so its keeping with the theme of the centre (expensive fashion, jewlery, so on)

Whats that 'sumo salad?'

[Malt]

nevermind i found it..
http://www.sumosalad.com/html/locations.asp

They have their queens plaza store listed as opning soon.


Found this site which i dont think has been mentioned so far:
http://www.aconex.com/content/view/116/122/



http://forums.vogue.com.au/showthread.php?t=41567
Those forums say some stores we havnt heard of?

"Mecca Cosmetica, and I know for a fact that there will definitely be a MaxMara and Max & Co., a new LV store"

Mecca Cosmetica
MaxMara
Max & Co
LV (?)


And they mentioned 'Herringbone" (http://www.herringbone.com.au/shop.asp?pageid=B2DCCCDF306C03A2)


alot...

This is the full list that those stuck up poeple off those forums i showed earlier listed


LV
tiffany&co
gucci
prada
armani (exchange??? - not sure)
extension & refurbishment of original of djs (with a foodhall!) i think djs won't be finished totally for a fair while after the first stage of QP opens. hope our cosmetics floor is like the new sydney one!
saba
saba men (possibly)
mimco
mecca cosmetica
french connection
seduce
jigsaw
alannah hill
esprit flagship
napolean
maxmara & max&co (i hadn't heard about this but the other posts have it)
review
herringbone (totally not sure about that)
Wittner

[Malt]

Also other finds ive made:

A Media Launch Vidio (.MOV)[9.55MB]
http://www.bwh.com.au/animation/gan.mov

And some pages form a newsletter:
http://img191.exs.cx/img191/6159/gannl11jv.jpg
http://img200.exs.cx/img200/9808/gannl22lc.jpg
http://img170.exs.cx/img170/3566/gannl33yr.jpg

[Malt]

Sorry for the spam but im just coming across lots of info..

http://www.and1.com.au/html/retailers.html#qld
That site puts a Sportsco in Queens Plaza

And the newsletter i just posted lists coles express..

Taking into account those new stores heres the list (from us, those stuck up fools at the Vogue forums, and other sources)

Louis Vuiton
Tiffany
Gucci
Prada
Armani
David Jones
Saba
Saba Men (possibly)
Mimco
Mecca Cosmetica
French Connection (FCUK)
Seduce
Jigsaw
Alannah hill
Esprit flagship
Napolean
Maxmara & Max & Co
Review
Herringbone
Wittner
Witchery
Sumo Salad
Fossil
Sportsco
Coles Express

[Orfeo]

GMAC is right - Fossil sells mens and womens watches and accesories (wallets, sunglasses, bags). They already have shop in Pacific Fair, and although it is nice I'm not sure I would label it as exclusive. But almost everything else....Louie Vuitton, Gucci, Prada..

The video is a great find.

[nagelixin]

Esprit need a new store in town, the current major store in the Myer Centre is a dump. I think it was the site of the old cafe which over looked the mall.

[nagelixin]

Note... DJ's will be getting street/mall frontage when the old site is redeveloped.
When DJ's move I am sure the area vacated will get a Diamaru/Pacific Fair style make over, allowing space for more retailers.

[nikko]

nice find with the video malt!

I really like this place, it just goes to show how much Brisbane is moving up in the world.

The facade of the building is awesome and suits QSM perfectly.

And with the underground taxi rank. . .is that the one thats inside the Queen.St bus tunnel? (entrance to The Chiefly)

[nagelixin]

I thought the taxi rank option was scrapped due to security fears?

[Malt]

It might be the carpark entrance. there are 4 levels of underground parking.

[Malt]

Rumour of a ' scanlan & theodore ' moving in.

Ive never heard of that store, but there ya go

[Malt]

Just on the topic of when it will open/be complete.

http://www.wittner.com.au/cpa/htm/fs_stores.asp

This store is sayuing it will be open in Queens Plaza "Estimated opening 17/2/05"

Does construction look like it will be complete by then?

[duke]

There is a large article about Queens Plaza and its owners Gandel in Prime Site in the Courier Mail today. Says it will be open in April. Also says that the design allows for a tower to be added later if required.

[nsn]

Any chance of a scan of the article?

[duke]

Any chance of a scan of the article?

Sorry, but I don't have any scanning facilities.

[nagelixin]

The article really isn't that much. Just go to McDonald's and read it for free. The article is in the Business section and is not on the Courier Mail website.

It just states what everyone has been saying here.

Opening in April (I thought it was to be 12/04 for Xmas)
Targeting high end stores
Confirmed Coles Central will be returning

[Maroon Grown]

back to construction issues - the facade is goin up. nice looking coloured polished concrete panels. they've also got the steel frame for the footpath awning erected.

[Malt]

Last i saw they had uncovered some of the adelaide st side of the facade.

[JayT]

Last i saw they had uncovered some of the adelaide st side of the facade.
Much of it is already covered in glass too.
jt

[NCC1701D]

Mecca Cosmetica, and I know for a fact that there will definitely be a MaxMara and Max & Co., a new LV store"

maxmara & max&co (i hadn't heard about this but the other posts have it)


Max Mara & Max & Co. are huge, I mean huge in Italy and France. I can't remember what they are, ie Mens or womens but Im pretty sure its more a womens high range fashion store. I remember seeing them all over the place in Rome and Paris. I think Sydney and Melbourne have one also.
There are a few shops in Brisbane though that are Max Mara 'stockists'.

[nsn]

The article really isn't that much.Just go to McDonald's and read it for free. The article is in the Business section and is not on the Courier Mail website.



I would, but McDonald's in Canberra don't tend to keep copies of the Courier-Mail.

:bash:

[nikko]

I know someone at Gandel so I'll see if I can dig up any more stores etc.

[Orfeo]

An article in the City News states that the centre should be open by the end of april (no surpises there) and also says that the marketing launch, where they should tell all about who is setting up shop, will be held over the next month.

[Malt]

Tiffany & Co. plans to open a store in Brisbane, Australia, in spring 2005. The approximately 2,100 sq.-ft store will be located on the ground floor of the new Queens Plaza shopping mall on Queen Street in Brisbane.
The store will offer Tiffany collections, including engagement diamonds and jewels in platinum and 18k gold settings; the Atlas jewelry collection, watches, the signature designs of Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and Jean Schlumberger; sterling silver jewelry, and accessories and crystal gifts.

"We look forward to expanding our presence in Australia with a new location in the heart of Brisbane's vibrant commercial center," said Peter Markus, managing director, Tiffany & Co. Australia. "The area is ideal for creating an exciting retail environment to showcase the quality, craftsmanship, and superior service that are the hallmarks of Tiffany's great heritage."

In Australia, Tiffany also has stores located in Sydney and in Melbourne.

[marty_k]

I spotted a small Tiffany's at the Gold Coast too. Wasn't expecting to find it there, but there you go.

Can't be bothered to check back through the thread to see if anyone has said already, but Rodd and Gunn are opening a second store in QP to compliment their store in the Myer Centre.

[Malt]

I dont think theres a tiffany's on the gold coast.

They only have 2 stores in australia, sydney and melbourne.

[marty_k]

Either my eyes were deceiving me (which occasionally happens), or I spotted a small Tiffany & Co. at one end of Cavill Mall... Or thereabouts anyway. It was when I was at Indy last year, so my mind wasn't really paying too much attention to what shops were where, obviously :)

[Danubis]

there is a tiffany's on gc... how would you know anyway malt? you str8 boy... pfft.

[marty_k]

Ha! I was right!

I bought my girlfriend a Tiffany's necklace a while back and she's still bragging about it. Mind you, I would too, but ... you know.

[Orfeo]

I think their website needs a bit of an update with regards to locations then...

tiffany.com (http://www.tiffany.com/locations/default.asp?mysid1=&cntry1=-1)

[Malt]

I guess its not a boutique then. because the site AND news reports stated that there are only 2.

[Gertzy]

Shops like Gucci and Bvlgari going there, this is a poshsie Shopping Centre right.

[Gertzy]

Is there Breakfast being served at Tiffany's GC. I stated that because of the Classic movie and the song that came out sometime either 96 around that time anyway.

[Gertzy]

And I said what about, Breakfast at Tiffany's.........

[nikko]

Either my eyes were deceiving me (which occasionally happens), or I spotted a small Tiffany & Co. at one end of Cavill Mall... Or thereabouts anyway. It was when I was at Indy last year, so my mind wasn't really paying too much attention to what shops were where, obviously :)


Nope, you're correct (or my eyes are deceiving aswell :lol ), because I spotted one in Surfers aswell. I said something about breakfast at tiffany's to my cousins (can't remember exactly though :D)

[JayT]

Either my eyes were deceiving me (which occasionally happens), or I spotted a small Tiffany & Co. at one end of Cavill Mall... Or thereabouts anyway. It was when I was at Indy last year, so my mind wasn't really paying too much attention to what shops were where, obviously :)

Yes your correct - there is a Tiffany & Co on Caville Mall. Its strange because you would think that Tiffany & Co would want to be with Gucci, Vercace, Prada, Fendi and all those other expensive brands on Elkhorn Ave.

jt

[Danubis]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v499/danubiis/queenssquare1.jpg

[marty_k]

Whoa, there's an 8am on Sunday mornings?



...

Sorry, I'll shut up now. :bash:

[Gertzy]

Danubis is doing everying 8AM sunday.

[Malt]

right on the corner u can see them uncovering it ,looks good

again (:)) good work danubis

[Gertzy]

Breakfast at Tiffany's

[SteV]

Does anyone know if there is going to be a David Jones Food Hall yet, like the great one there is in Melbourne?

[Orfeo]

^
yep, in stage 1 so it should open with the rest of the centre soon. ob (http://www.ourbrisbane.com/visitors/shopping/queenstreetcity/)

[JayT]

Does anyone know if there is going to be a David Jones Food Hall yet, like the great one there is in Melbourne?

Once the new David Jones opens in the second phase of the development it will be the second largest DJ's in Australia - so it should have a better Food Hall.

jt

[Gertzy]

David Jones ehh, I remember back when I was like 4 where they had a Three or Two level DJ's in Flinders Mall in Townsville. It moved out to Stockland and shut down.

[nagelixin]

They sold the store to Harris Scarfe, which then fell into receivership. It is now Rebel Sport and Crazy Clarks.
The original Townsville store site is home to the local rugby club (mini casino in the middle of the mall)

------------------------------


Any ideas anyone on any opening dates ??

[JayT]

Ill see if I can take some pics on my way home later.

jt

[GMAC]

Was in town the other day and I must say that I love this building, I didnt realise that it was going to look so upmarket. Cant wait for the pics JayT!!

[nsn]

Pics would be greatly appreciated!

[Redress]

Pardon my ignorance - but what is so interesting about a food hall?

[nerazzurri]

You'll find out when you get hungry :jk:

[Malt]

it isnt a food hall.
Its clearly a shopping complex. A new phase/step for Brisbane.
thats why its interesting,
Read the rest of the thread.

[JayT]

Taken Today

[Malt]

shit looks awesome. i havnt been into the city for a while. i should go lol.

[BrizzyChris]

I want some massive neon billboards! :)

[duke]

Courier Mail business section today reports that there will be NO food hall in the new David Jones store.

[bribri]

I just read that too! I was looking forward to a DJ's food hall more than any other aspect of this development so I am quite dissapointed by this news. O riginally they planned one to rival the Sydney CBD store, even a small version would be better than no food hall at all.

[Malt]

there might still be a foodhall when they finish doing up the old store. DJ's wont open for ages.?

[nagelixin]

Courier Mail business section today reports that there will be NO food hall in the new David Jones store.


Do you mean the temp store of the revamped store in 2006??

[nagelixin]

That Courier Mail article....



SHOPPING blues . . . the fierce battle between Myer and David Jones has helped bring department stores back to life.
Retail giants at war

Retail giants at war Brisbane's Queen Street Mall has become ground zero in the latest tussle for supremacy in Australia's retail wars. Emma Chalmers reports
02apr05

AT ONE end of the Queen Street Mall, plasterers and builders have been busy for some months crafting a shiny new $30 million home for David Jones.

Head a few hundred metres up past dozens of specialty and discount stores and there is millions of dollars worth of paint being splashed around by its rival Myer as it scrambles to inject some life into its ageing store.

It's a construction zone that's become a battle ground as the Mall represents a microcosm of the turf war between David Jones and Myer that raises questions about the longevity and future of the department store industry.

The Queen Street Mall renovations come at a time when Coles Myer is evaluating its underperforming department store arm while its upmarket rival David Jones talks up the possibilities of expansion.

Come mid-year, when the paint dries and the barriers are brought down, both stores will square off with flashy new homes that are sure to bring some buzz to the CBD.

David Jones was the first of the two dames to check in for a major bout of cosmetic surgery when construction began on the new Queens Plaza on the corner of Edward, Adelaide and Queen streets in a deal that was signed with Gandel in 1999.

The new David Jones will retain the same selling size space (10,000sq m) but will be moved into Queens Plaza as the old store is demolished and rebuilt to join the two buildings together.

The construction of a brand new store amounts to an investment of more than $30 million for the company, and while David Jones chief executive officer Mark McInnes says the existing store is one of the company's best performing stores, the development is "fundamental" to the company's future success in the Queensland market.

"It's a serious capital commitment for our company and it's a long-term rental agreement," he says.

"Over the first three years we'd like to double our existing sales so it's a significant investment and we want to get a significant return."

While parts of the renovation will be on show by the middle of this year, the complete redevelopment will not finish until the middle of next year, but David Jones will continue trading throughout.

The polished product will be significantly different to the existing store and will include a cosmetics and accessories hall, nearly two full floors of women's fashion and brands new to the Brisbane market – a move that David Jones hopes will broaden its appeal.

But absent will be its own food hall, scrapped in the wake of the company cutting its losses on its gourmet Foodchain arm in 2003.

Along with what will amount to the best department store in the company's portfolio, Mr McInnes says the new store and the development surrounding it has the capacity to give the Queen Street Mall a shake-up.

"It's a flagship store and it will fundamentally I think change shopping in the Queen Street Mall," he says.

"At the moment, Queen Street Mall shopping is up towards the middle or the Myer end of the Queen Street Mall and I think with the new building, it will change the hub of shopping towards the bottom of the Mall."

Not content to let David Jones take its market away so easily, the ageing Myer store in the Mall has belatedly gone under the knife as well.

The stakes are high for Myer, as witnessed when both companies released their half-year profit results last month.

While Myer has started to claw back after troubled times four years ago, its sales rose only 1.4 per cent to $1.66 billion in the last half, compared with David Jones which had sales revenue up 5.5 per cent to $977.7 million in the same period.

The figures underlined the significant turn in fortunes at David Jones, which was struggling in 2003. In the first half of this year Myer's earnings edged up 2.4 per cent from $59.3 million to $60.7, while earnings from David Jones's stores were up up 19.7 per cent to $59.6 million for the same period.

While David Jones's plans in Brisbane have been known for some time, Myer somewhat quietly began renovating its Queen Street Mall store in the last couple of months.

Myer regional manager of Queensland Stephen Part says the work was always in the pipeline as part of the company's refurbishment program, which has already taken in its Chatswood and Bondi stores in Sydney and its Perth store.

"It's not about David Jones, it's about what we're doing in our marketplace," he says.

"It was always part of our plans for the future. We hope that our store is a really strong indication to Queensland, this is actually our 50th year in Queensland, so it is a strong sign of our commitment to Queensland. There's a lot of significant dollars being spent, so it's a great investment."

The complete overhaul will take several months, with the covers to come off mid-year, and already part of the cosmetics hall has been revealed.

Mr Part says the new look store will be "contemporary, bright and fun" and the "visually exciting" redevelopment will give the store the opportunity to add some significant new brands to its portfolio.

As exciting as the redevelopments may be for the companies and shoppers alike, the cosmetic surgery cuts a little deeper as this is a sector of the retail industry that turns over $16 billion every year.

Department stores have come under the microscope in the last month after somewhat opposing sentiments have emerged out of the Myer and David Jones camps in the wake of their profit announcements.

Last week, Coles Myer chief executive officer John Fletcher said the company was watching Myer's performance and would not confirm if the Myer department stores would be still part of the retail giant's portfolio in 2006-07.

A week later it was a starkly different picture being painted by David Jones. Speaking on television on Sunday, Mr McInnes said David Jones had the potential to expand its stable of stores by six, a few days after forecasting a net profit growth guidance at the top of its long-term 5-10 per cent range.

Indeed, Mr McInnes believes the tide has turned for the department store and they remain "relevant and fresh".

"It was only three years ago that people were talking about department stores as being dinosaurs and today people are talking about department stores as renovated and exciting," he says.

"All of a sudden the customers of Queensland are getting to new department stores and a new centre."

Amanda Young, executive director of the Australian Centre for Retail Studies, says the highly publicised battle between Myer and David Jones has helped bring department stores back to life after their relevance started to wane.

Department stores suffered with competition from specialty stores where service is seen to be better and more personalised and the big businesses seemed to lose touch with what consumers want – including a modern environment to shop in.

"It's about being able to adapt to what the customers want and I think that has always been difficult for department stores because adapting often means investing in refurbishments and that's always a difficult proposition," she says.

"It's a heavy investment and not always easy to ge a return."

The changing of the executive guard at Coles Myer and at David Jones in the last few years has resulted in both companies adopting new strategies for their department stores to correct some consumer perceptions.

Myer has been trying to reverse the affects from its old strategy to push its brand downmarket, which Ms Young says went "too far", and has benefited instead from a broader appeal to shoppers intimidated by David Jones.

Ms Young says that while David Jones had offered a viable alternative to customers dissatisfied with Myer's level of service, it has rallied against its upmarket tag.

"David Jones has always created a perception in customers that they are more of a prestige store and tending to be a shop which attracts customers who have more money," she says.

"That's something they've tried to dispel by having their catalogues now much more value priced and they're very strongly promoting the point that you won't pay any more to shop in David Jones."

As far as the retailer is concerned, the competition between the two has been good for business.

Mr McInnes says the "robust" competitiveness is "healthy" and he likes what he sees in the future.

Despite the excitement over the city renovations and the renewed relevance for department stores, there are some blots on both company's copybooks that even a makeover can't save.

Myer has extended itself to be responsible for significantly more stores than its rival and despite David Jones touting the possibility for new stores, there are some existing stores under siege.

So while Myer and David Jones in Brisbane City both celebrate a fresh outlook, there must be some suburban stores fearing they are more likely to be paid a visit by the company's wreckers than cosmetic surgeons.

[nagelixin]

As for scrapping the Food Hall, the Foodchain concept was good, just too big for the market at that time.. Just look at stores like Jones the Grocer, they are flourishing.

[Malt]

nice article

[SteV]

That's a shame about the food hall - the one in Melbourne is fantastic. It would have been nice to have a [tiny] slice of Harrod's, Selfridges or Harvey Nich's in Brissie.

Oh well, never mind :(

[JayT]

there might still be a foodhall when they finish doing up the old store. DJ's wont open for ages.?
From what I have heard the Food Hall will be in the older section of DJ's which hasn't been done up yet. According to a friend in council it will be the second largest DJ's food hall outside Sydney and when complete in 2006/7 it will be the second largest DJ's in the country after Sydney.

Remember the Queens Plaza bit is just half the development.
jt

[nikko]

Taken Today (5/4/05 - 11am):

http://img216.exs.cx/img216/1753/00001428uf.th.jpg (http://img216.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img216&image=00001428uf.jpg)

[nagelixin]

JayT is correct, I asked the old girl in the Elevator yesterday and she said the FoodHall will be returning, when DJ's moves back. She said everyone is asking them about it...

[SteV]

Well, if the old girl in the elevator says it, it MUST be true.

*laughing*

sorry! *grin*

[nsn]

I would have been very surprised if there were no foodhall. It would make Queen St the only metropolitan David Jones store not to have a foodhall. I would think that they'd be sure to have one there even if it is going to be a loss-leader, just as a matter of pride! If Chadstone can support a foodhall, then surely Brisbane CBD can...?!

[JayT]

I would have been very surprised if there were no foodhall. It would make Queen St the only metropolitan David Jones store not to have a foodhall. I would think that they'd be sure to have one there even if it is going to be a loss-leader, just as a matter of pride! If Chadstone can support a foodhall, then surely Brisbane CBD can...?!
True. DJ's and Myer in Brisbane are also at war now. Myer is currently undertaking a complete new fitout of the store which is looking very bright and new.

Oh, I also heard there is a Gucci going into Queens Plaza too. (not that I'll ever shop there)

jt

[Malt]

^weve already discussed/posted the list of stores JayT.
Wasnt Gucci confirmed on it?

[Maroon Grown]

the only dj's ive ever been in is Toombul and ive never heard of a foodhall in the centre. do most other stores have foodhalls?

[Malt]

no. Only Sydney and Melbourne stores have a foodhall.

maybe NSN was talking about foodhalls in the actual shopping centre.

[nsn]

No, I'm not. I'm talking about the David Jones Foodhall - where they sell gourmet products such as cheeses, meats, wines, and some premium groceries. Also they have coffee shops and oyster bars and such things. It is not limited to the Sydney and Melbourne stores. Other David Jones stores have one too: Bondi Junction, Newcastle, Hay St (Perth city store), Rundle Mall (Adelaide city store), and Chadstone. Which is why I said, if the Queen St store doesn't have one, it will be the only metropolitan (capital city) DJs store not to have one - Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide all do. (I don't count the Canberra city store as a metropolitan store because it is so small.)

[nagelixin]

http://www.theage.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1076388359565_2004/02/10/food_hall,0.jpg

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/09/04/dj_0509_ent-lead__200x130.jpg

http://www.hastiegroup.com.au/images/austral_cs2.jpg

A real food hall above, David Jones Melbourne.

Gucci will be a tenant.

[Malt]

Many articles have stated that the only other 2 are Syd and Melb.
So were obviously talking about different things.

[nsn]

Those articles are wrong. But the article from the Courier-Mail above is not, sadly. I just called DJs corporate office and they confirmed that there will be no foodhall in Queen St.

[Danubis]

thats what they want you to think nsn *cackle*

[SteV]

but what about the lady in the elevator?! She said there would be.

*grin*

Nar, I really hope we get one, somehow

[marty_k]

I haven't really been around the city for a while and therefore haven't gotten much more than a quick glance at the progress of Queens Plaza. When is it supposed to open again? Easter '05 was the last I heard when I asked just before Christmas '04 :tongue2:

[Orfeo]

I haven't really been around the city for a while and therefore haven't gotten much more than a quick glance at the progress of Queens Plaza. When is it supposed to open again? Easter '05 was the last I heard when I asked just before Christmas '04
Earlier in the year they were saying things like april and 'in time for mothers day', but I'm hearing 'middle of the year' quite a bit now.....so who knows

[nikko]

As of Yesterday, they installed large folding glass doors on the QSM entrance to the centre.

[nagelixin]

but what about the lady in the elevator?! She said there would be.

*grin*

Nar, I really hope we get one, somehow

I am sure the old diddy would know what's going on. I mean if she knows which floor you can buy a bamix on she must know about the food hall

[Maroon Grown]

i was speaking to a watpac employee the other day who works on Queens. He said a foodhall / cafe area would be included in Stage 2.

[Malt]

Just like the lady in the elevator said.
We should learn to trust her.

(good news btw lol)

[nsn]

OK - this will be my last post on the question of the David Jones Foodhall, I promise! Someone from DJs just called me back to follow up on my query. She seemed really interested to know why I wanted to know it - I don't think she believed me that it was just for posting on a web forum (she seemed incredulous that there are people who go online to discuss such things!). Anyway, she said that she couldn't give me an answer "for commercial reasons", because they are still at an early stage of the redevelopment. Which is understandable. Especially since Myer has also decided to redevelop, I guess they want to keep their 'final product' under their hat for as long as they can.

[nikko]

OK - this will be my last post on the question of the David Jones Foodhall, I promise! Someone from DJs just called me back to follow up on my query. She seemed really interested to know why I wanted to know it - I don't think she believed me that it was just for posting on a web forum (she seemed incredulous that there are people who go online to discuss such things!). Anyway, she said that she couldn't give me an answer "for commercial reasons", because they are still at an early stage of the redevelopment. Which is understandable. Especially since Myer has also decided to redevelop, I guess they want to keep their 'final product' under their hat for as long as they can.

you know...whenever people ask me about taking my pics, I get the same sort of feeling they don't believe me :P

but I'm sure it's going to be in the second phase, I mean there was all the talk of it and all the press releases etc, I'm sure as you said it's just to do with the comeptition. How good is this though from a retail perspective, We've got two competing Department stores...just goes to show all is not lost to franchise and globalistic large chains.

[GMAC]

Has anyone checked out the new Myer Store, went in there on Friday night and about half of it is done and is looking very nice. Its all white and shiny so you may want to take your sunnies in but it is a huge improvement!

[nagelixin]

The new store is **very bright** on the bottom floor, still alot to go including the Queen Street frontage.

Definately leave your sunglasses on.

[nikko]

still alot to go including the Queen Street frontage.

Yeah, who said that it was finished? When I went to look the other day, the old one was still there.

Anyway, that cosmetics section is blinding but I think all the bright lights are put there to lure people in (just like on X-files) :D

[Malt]

I went in, i was honestly impressed. Very new and shiney.
When i went in they still had the walls up, and you had to walk around into a 'tunnel' of sorts to get into the Myer Centre.

Still, its a big improvement.

[nagelixin]

Official Opening Date ~ May 24

City News reports the opening date is set for May 24.

[JayT]

Official Opening Date ~ May 24

City News reports the opening date is set for May 24.
Noticed the fitouts to the stores are progressing well. Signage is up for Tiffany & Co, Max Mara and Max & Co. I wonder what is going on the corner of Queen and Edward? Its an amazing site and I'd love to know what the rental is.
jt

[Gaz4007]

Is this opening just for the ground level? - thats what i heard anyway.

[nagelixin]

I am not sure... I guess it may hinge on when David Jones moves in up stairs while the old site is refurbished.

[SteV]

I really think this will mark the beginning a new era for Brissie. It has come of age in style, and has achieved the "big city" status, attracting such luxury brands.

[mic]

Who are the anchor tennants in this development??

[Malt]

^ apparantly....



Louis Vuiton
Tiffany
Gucci
Prada
Armani
David Jones
Saba
Saba Men (possibly)
Mimco
Mecca Cosmetica
French Connection (FCUK)
Seduce
Jigsaw
Alannah hill
Esprit flagship
Napolean
Maxmara & Max & Co
Review
Herringbone
Wittner
Witchery
Sumo Salad
Fossil
Sportsco
Coles Express

[SteV]

Sumo salad! hehe

Are we really getting and ARMANI? Or is it emporio?

[mic]

Awsome Line up-Brisbane has finally arrived.

Saba is a Melbourne company, hopefully people fall in love with it and start to dress like Melbournians, believe me its a good look.

[Malt]

^I dont know. I copy + pasted that list together from the Vogue forums.

[JayT]

^ apparantly....



Louis Vuiton
Tiffany
Gucci
Prada
Armani
David Jones
Saba
Saba Men (possibly)
Mimco
Mecca Cosmetica
French Connection (FCUK)
Seduce
Jigsaw
Alannah hill
Esprit flagship
Napolean
Maxmara & Max & Co
Review
Herringbone
Wittner
Witchery
Sumo Salad
Fossil
Sportsco
Coles Express

We already have alot of those. I was hoping that they open a new vercace store - the one at CP is too far away from the major shopping precinct.
Won't that be the third Louis Vuiton for the CBD - must be doing a roaring trade.

Also I would like to see more Brisbane Designers come in from the suburbs and set up in the CBD, names like Easton Pearson, Sass & Bide and so on.

jt

[JayT]

Awsome Line up-Brisbane has finally arrived.

Saba is a Melbourne company, hopefully people fall in love with it and start to dress like Melbournians, believe me its a good look.

LOL - this will be the second SABA for that particular location. There is one over the street in Wintergarden.
jt

[Malt]

The store under CP isnt a proper Versace.

And it would be the second Louis Vuiton.

[JayT]

The store under CP isnt a proper Versace.

And it would be the second Louis Vuiton.

I'm sure there is one on Edward St - over the road from Marks and just near Oroton, Morrissey, Polo Ralph Lauren and that Watches of Switzerland place.
jt

[Danubis]

malt, dont argue fashion with the gay boy ok

[Malt]

/me slaps danubis

[SteV]

Oi I'm a gay boy too! There is no Versace store in the Vegas as yet, and no Calvin Klein store either :(

There is currently only one Louis Vuitton - in Elizabeth St. I heard that it was actually moving from that location to QueensPlaza

[nagelixin]

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Besides if really you want to shop go to Chapel St, Bridge Rd, Smith St and Chadstone.

[marty_k]

You can get a sneak peak of the inside (though it's far from complete) from Queen St. Mall. Looks nice.