Sunshine Plaza today announced the grand opening of its $440 million redevelopment will take place on 28 March 2019. Since construction works commenced in September 2016, the centre has secured the region’s first David Jones and H&M stores, as well as a new Big W which will all open as part of the redevelopment.

The total expansion adds 35,000m2 of retail space to the existing centre, and includes over 100 additional specialty stores such as MECCA, Sheike, lululemon, Seed Heritage, Endota Spa, JB Hi-Fi, Kathmandu and Baku, with many more to come.

“We set out to transform the centre into an exceptional destination where our customer experience extends well beyond just retail – and we’ve exceeded our own expectations. What we’ve achieved is a new benchmark for retail centres across Australia. We have proudly retained and enhanced the indoor-outdoor experience that the centre is known for and created a place that reflects the best qualities of the Sunshine Coast lifestyle.” said Gary Horwitz, Managing Director of Retail, Lendlease.

Sunshine Plaza Cornmeal Promenade

“Sunshine Plaza now has some of the biggest national brands and most sought-after specialty stores, so locals no longer need to travel to Brisbane for their ideal shopping experience — everything they need, and more, is right here.”

Sunshine Plaza will be the site of H&M’s first store to open on the Sunshine Coast and the twelfth in Queensland. Spanning approximately 2,700m2 and set over two levels.

“We are excited to announce that our new store at Sunshine Plaza will be opening on the 28 of March” said Thomas Coellner, Australian Country Manager for H&M. “Our customers are number one and we are looking forward to finally introducing the H&M brand to the Sunshine Coast and meeting our new customers on opening day”.

The significant redevelopment which featured in SCN’s Big Guns 2018 cover story, will see Sunshine Plaza become the first super-regional* shopping centre north of Brisbane and is expected to generate 2,300 additional retail jobs for the region on completion.

“The centre will not only be a community hub that locals can be proud of, tourists will put Sunshine Plaza on their ‘must-visit’ list. This will strengthen the already significant impact the centre has on the regional economy and will help create more local jobs.

Customers have just six weeks to wait until the much-anticipated expansion is revealed.  We can’t wait to welcome everyone to experience the new Sunshine Plaza for themselves.” said Horwitz.

Sunshine Plaza redevelopment flythrough – https://vimeo.com/244141904

FAST FACTS:

• Number of new tenancies: 114 (44 in first stage of new mall; 70 in stage two opening)
• Total number of retailers now at Sunshine Plaza: 276
• Total number of stores post-development: 345
• Total square metres: ~107,000m2
• Total number of parking spaces: almost 5,000
• Total investment for redevelopment works: $440 million
• Number of construction personnel onsite daily during development: 370 (as at Jan 2019)
• The high ropes adventure course will open mid-2019

*A super-regional shopping centre is defined by Shopping Centres Online, Property Council of Australia as: A major shopping centre typically incorporating two full line department stores, one or more full line discount department stores, two supermarkets and approximately 250 specialty shops. – Total gross lettable area retail exceeds 85,000m2.