Broadway Shopping Centre

Broadway Shopping Centre is a shopping, dining and entertainment complex in the Broadway locality of Sydney, New South Wales. The centre occupies one of two historic buildings formerly associated with the Grace Bros department-store business on Broadway. The building opened in 1923 and later became part of a redevelopment that combined retail, hospitality and university-related accommodation in the surrounding former department-store structures. Walker Corporation restored and redeveloped the buildings during the 1990s. The shopping centre opened in 1998 and was initially owned and managed by Walker Corporation. In December 2006, ownership changed hands when the centre was sold to Mirvac, which subsequently remained associated with the asset's ownership and management. An additional floor was added to the original centre in 2007, expanding its retail and customer facilities. The centre's offer combines everyday shopping, fashion, electronics, homewares, food and leisure. Major retailers identified with the centre include Kmart, Coles, Target, Aldi, H&M, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Harris Farm Markets and Rebel Sport, alongside more than 100 specialty stores. Its food-and-leisure facilities include a food court with seating for approximately 500 people and a Hoyts cinema complex containing 12 screens. The mix gives Broadway Shopping Centre a catchment role that extends beyond convenience retail to students, residents, workers and visitors in Sydney's inner city. A substantial refurbishment began in 2015 and was completed in August 2016. The project included a redesigned food court and additional or refreshed fashion retail space, updating the centre's customer environment and tenant mix. The upgrade was reported as costing A$55 million. The centre is positioned close to the University of Sydney and the inner-city suburbs of Ultimo, Glebe and Chippendale. It is served by buses operating along Parramatta Road and City Road, while Central railway station is approximately a 15-minute walk away. Customer access also includes bicycle parking and a multilevel car park with more than 1,665 spaces. Broadway Shopping Centre remains an active Sydney retail destination, although its public history is principally documented through its physical development, tenant offer, refurbishment and several safety incidents rather than through a separate consumer-goods brand portfolio.

Broadway Shopping Centre is located in one of two former Grace Bros buildings on Broadway in inner Sydney. The historic building dates from 1923, when Grace Bros operated a major department-store presence on the site. The paired buildings later acquired new uses as the surrounding Broadway precinct changed, including university accommodation and retail activity. During the 1990s, Walker Corporation undertook a restoration and redevelopment of the former Grace Bros buildings. The project sought to preserve and reuse the existing structures while introducing a modern shopping-centre format and university student accommodation. Broadway Shopping Centre opened in 1998, establishing a retail and entertainment destination close to the University of Sydney and the inner-city neighbourhoods of Ultimo, Glebe and Chippendale. Walker Corporation owned and managed the centre during its first years of operation. In December 2006, the property was sold to Mirvac. The centre was expanded in 2007 through the addition of another floor to the original complex, allowing for further retail and customer facilities. A major refurbishment commenced in 2015. The A$55 million project focused on modernising the customer experience, with a redesigned food court and new or refreshed fashion stores among the principal changes. The works were completed in August 2016. The resulting centre combined large supermarkets and department stores with fashion, electronics, homewares, fresh food, sporting goods, dining and entertainment. Its leisure offer includes a food court with capacity for approximately 500 people and a Hoyts cinema complex with 12 screens. The wider tenant mix has included Kmart, Coles, Target, Aldi, H&M, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Harris Farm Markets and Rebel Sport, as well as more than 100 specialty retailers. The centre has also been associated with several significant safety incidents. In February 2008, an electrical substation fire caused a power failure and resulted in lift rescues, although no injuries were reported. In June 2012, security guard Hans Schulz died after confronting two people who had entered a food kiosk; the pair were charged with manslaughter. In April 2016, a fire on level three led to the evacuation of hundreds of people. Broadway Shopping Centre is accessible by buses operating on Parramatta Road and City Road. Central railway station is about a 15-minute walk away, and the site provides bicycle parking and a multilevel car park with more than 1,665 spaces. Its development history reflects the adaptive reuse of a landmark department-store property and the continuing role of large-format retail in Sydney's inner city.

• 2016

  Refurbishment completed

  [1]Broadway Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The reported A$55 million upgrade is completed in August, with a revamped food court and new fashion stores.

• 2015

  Major refurbishment begins

  [1]Broadway Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A major upgrade project begins, including work on the food court and fashion-retail areas.

• 2007

  Additional floor added

  [1]Broadway Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  An additional floor is added to the original centre, expanding its retail and customer facilities.

• 2006

  Sale to Mirvac

  [1]Broadway Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Mirvac acquires the shopping centre from Walker Corporation in December.

• 1998

  Shopping centre opens

  [1]Broadway Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Broadway Shopping Centre opens under Walker Corporation ownership and management.

• 1997

  Restoration and redevelopment undertaken

  [1]Broadway Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Walker Corporation undertakes restoration and redevelopment of the former Grace Bros buildings for retail and university accommodation uses.

• 1923

  Former Grace Bros building opens

  [1]Broadway Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  One of the historic buildings later incorporated into Broadway Shopping Centre opens as part of the Grace Bros department-store complex.

An inner-city Sydney shopping and entertainment centre combining essential retail, fashion, dining, cinema and services in a restored historic department-store building.

• General retail · 1998

  Retail tenant mix

  Broadway Shopping Centre's core offer is delivered through major supermarket, department-store and specialty tenants. The documented mix includes Kmart, Coles, Target and Aldi for everyday and general merchandise shopping, together with more than 100 specialty retailers across fashion, electronics, homewares, fresh food and services.

• Dining · 1998

  Food court

  The centre includes a food court with seating capacity for approximately 500 people. It forms a central part of the centre's dining offer and was substantially revamped during the refurbishment completed in 2016.

• Entertainment · 1998

  Hoyts cinema complex

  The Hoyts cinema complex provides a 12-screen movie-theatre offering within the shopping centre. It extends the site beyond conventional retail and supports its role as an inner-city leisure destination.

• 2015

  Major customer-experience refurbishmentStrategy

  Background

  The centre required modernisation of its retail and dining environment as inner-city consumer expectations and tenant requirements changed.

  Action taken

  A reported A$55 million upgrade was launched, including a redesigned food court and new fashion stores.

  Aftermath

  The works were completed in August 2016 and refreshed the centre's dining and fashion offer.

  Reported refurbishment cost. A$55 million (2015-2016)

  Source

• 2006

  Ownership transferred from Walker Corporation to MirvacM&A

  Background

  Walker Corporation had owned and managed Broadway Shopping Centre since its opening in 1998.

  Action taken

  Mirvac acquired the centre in December 2006.

  Aftermath

  Mirvac became the centre's owner and was subsequently associated with its operation and later refurbishment.

  Source

1. 1Broadway Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Broadway Shopping Centre official websitebroadwaysydney.com.au