MidCity

MidCity is a retail and office development in Sydney's central business district, positioned on Pitt Street Mall near several of the city's best-known shopping destinations. The centre is adjacent to Westfield Sydney and close to The Strand Arcade and Glasshouse, placing it within a dense pedestrian retail precinct that connects Pitt Street Mall with George Street and other central-city shopping streets. The original Mid City Centre opened in 1989 as a three-level shopping centre with approximately 50 specialty stores. Its early tenant mix included Rebel Sport, HMV, Dick Smith and Priceline, reflecting the centre's combination of fashion, entertainment, electronics, sport and everyday retail. Its location also gave it a role as a pedestrian gateway between neighbouring arcades and larger shopping complexes. Fortius Funds Management acquired the centre in May 2006 for A$270 million, with Lendlease taking a 25 percent interest. In November 2007 the original centre was demolished to enable a larger office-and-retail project. The replacement development, built at an approximate cost of A$70 million, incorporated an office tower known as 420 George and a redesigned shopping centre branded MidCity. The rebuilt centre opened in stages during 2010. Stage one opened on 23 March and introduced prominent Australian fashion tenants, including two-storey flagship stores for General Pants Co. and Witchery, alongside G-Star Raw and other retailers. Stage two opened on 17 June 2010 in a ceremony involving American fashion designer and actress Nicole Richie. This phase added a flagship Rebel Sport store and brought the reported tenant count to 45. The redevelopment also restored a pedestrian connection between George Street and Pitt Street Mall. MidCity later broadened its fashion and lifestyle offer. Japanese retailer Uniqlo opened its second Sydney store at the centre on 27 November 2014. Reported major and other tenants have included Uniqlo, Rebel, Sheike, Forever New, Kathmandu, Cotton On Body, Culture Kings, Leah's Wax Works and Peter Alexander. The centre is described as having more than 24 stores across fashion, beauty, fitness and lifestyle, while historical redevelopment reporting referred to 45 tenants after the second 2010 stage; these figures reflect different periods or counting methods. MidCity has approximately 9,427 square metres of floor space. It is accessible on foot from Town Hall and St James railway stations, and from light-rail services at the QVB stop. Bus routes serving Pitt and Elizabeth Streets connect the centre with Sydney's eastern suburbs, inner west and nearby local areas. MidCity does not provide customer parking, although valet parking is available at nearby Glasshouse and Westfield Sydney car parks. The available reference material does not identify a current owner, operator, website, chief executive or listed corporate parent.

MidCity originated as the Mid City Centre, a three-level shopping centre that opened in Sydney in 1989. The original property contained around 50 specialty stores and occupied a strategically important position on Pitt Street Mall. Its main entrance connected shoppers with neighbouring retail destinations, including Westfield Sydney, Imperial Arcade, Skygarden, Glasshouse, Sydney Central Plaza and The Strand Arcade. The initial tenant profile included Rebel Sport, HMV, Dick Smith and Priceline, giving the centre a broad mix of sporting goods, entertainment, electronics and pharmacy retail. A major ownership and development phase began in May 2006, when Fortius Funds Management acquired the centre for A$270 million. Lendlease subsequently held a 25 percent interest. The owners pursued a redevelopment rather than retaining the existing centre. In November 2007 the original Mid City Centre was demolished to make way for a combined office and retail scheme. The replacement project cost approximately A$70 million and included an office tower called 420 George together with a new shopping centre branded MidCity. The retail component opened in two stages. Stage one opened on 23 March 2010, with prominent fashion tenants including two-storey flagship stores for General Pants Co. and Witchery, as well as G-Star Raw and other Australian retailers. Stage two opened on 17 June 2010. Nicole Richie participated in the opening ceremony, and the second stage included a Rebel Sport flagship store. Following that opening, the centre was reported to contain 45 stores. The redevelopment also restored a pedestrian link between George Street and Pitt Street Mall, reinforcing MidCity's role within Sydney's connected central shopping district. The centre's later retail profile included fashion, beauty, fitness and lifestyle uses. On 27 November 2014, Japanese retailer Uniqlo opened its second Sydney store at MidCity. Other reported tenants have included Sheike, Forever New, Kathmandu, Cotton On Body, Culture Kings, Leah's Wax Works and Peter Alexander, in addition to Uniqlo and Rebel. The centre is currently described in reference material as having more than 24 stores across fashion, beauty, fitness and lifestyle, while the 2010 redevelopment account gives a higher figure of 45 stores. These numbers likely relate to different periods or definitions of store count. MidCity has approximately 9,427 square metres of floor space. It remains located on Pitt Street Mall, next to Westfield Sydney and near The Strand Arcade and Glasshouse. Its public-transport access includes walking routes from Town Hall and St James railway stations, light-rail access at the QVB stop, and bus services concentrated around Pitt and Elizabeth Streets. The centre does not offer customer parking; nearby Glasshouse and Westfield Sydney facilities provide valet parking. Publicly available reference material does not establish the current ownership structure, operating company, executive leadership, official website or listed status.

• 2014

  Uniqlo opens its second Sydney store

  [1]MidCityen.wikipedia.org

  Uniqlo opens a store on level one of MidCity on 27 November.

• 2010

  Stage one of rebuilt MidCity opens

  [1]MidCityen.wikipedia.org

  The first stage opens on 23 March with major fashion tenants and flagship stores.

• 2010

  Stage two completes the redevelopment

  [1]MidCityen.wikipedia.org

  The second stage opens on 17 June, adding a Rebel Sport flagship and restoring a pedestrian connection between George Street and Pitt Street Mall.

• 2007

  Original centre demolished

  [1]MidCityen.wikipedia.org

  The old shopping centre is demolished for an office-and-retail redevelopment.

• 2006

  Fortius acquires the centre

  [1]MidCityen.wikipedia.org

  Fortius Funds Management purchases Mid City Centre for A$270 million, with Lendlease taking a 25 percent stake.

• 1989

  Original Mid City Centre opens

  [1]MidCityen.wikipedia.org

  The original three-level centre opens on Pitt Street Mall with approximately 50 specialty stores.

A centrally located, fashion- and lifestyle-oriented shopping centre serving pedestrians in Sydney's Pitt Street Mall retail precinct, with a tenant mix spanning fashion, sport, beauty, fitness and specialty retail.

• Apparel and accessories · 1989

  Fashion retail

  Fashion is a core part of MidCity's tenant mix. The centre has hosted brands including General Pants Co., Witchery, G-Star Raw, Sheike, Forever New, Cotton On Body and Peter Alexander, spanning casualwear, contemporary fashion, intimates, sleepwear and accessories.

• Sporting goods and outdoor apparel · 1989

  Sports and outdoor retail

  Sport and outdoor retail has been represented since the original centre opened, when Rebel Sport was among the named tenants. The rebuilt centre later added a Rebel Sport flagship, while Kathmandu expanded the outdoor and travel-oriented offer.

• Services and specialty retail · 2010

  Beauty, fitness and lifestyle services

  MidCity's broader lifestyle category includes beauty and personal-care services, fitness-related businesses and specialty retailers. Leah's Wax Works is among the specifically reported tenants, while the centre describes its offer as covering beauty, fitness and lifestyle in addition to fashion.

• Apparel retail · 2014

  Uniqlo Sydney store

  Uniqlo opened its second Sydney store at MidCity in November 2014. The store added a major international apparel anchor to the centre's fashion-focused tenant mix.

• 2014

  Host Uniqlo's second Sydney storeProduct launch

  Background

  MidCity continued to build its fashion offer after the 2010 redevelopment.

  Action taken

  Uniqlo opened a level-one store at MidCity on 27 November.

  Aftermath

  The opening added a major Japanese apparel retailer and expanded the centre's international fashion presence in Sydney.

  Source

• 2010

  Stage the opening of the rebuilt centreStrategy

  Background

  The replacement shopping centre formed part of a larger office-and-retail project and was delivered in separate retail stages.

  Action taken

  Stage one opened on 23 March, followed by stage two on 17 June. The later stage added the Rebel Sport flagship and completed the reported pedestrian connection.

  Aftermath

  The second opening brought the reported store count to 45 and established the redeveloped MidCity as a fashion, sport and lifestyle destination.

  Source

• 2007

  Replace the original centre with an office-and-retail developmentStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2006 acquisition, the owners pursued a redevelopment of the existing shopping centre site in Sydney's central retail precinct.

  Action taken

  The original centre was demolished in November 2007 and replaced by a project combining the 420 George office tower with a new MidCity shopping centre.

  Aftermath

  The rebuilt centre opened in two stages in 2010, added prominent fashion and sporting-goods stores, and re-established a pedestrian connection between George Street and Pitt Street Mall.

  Redevelopment cost. Approximately A$70 million (Redevelopment completed through staged openings in 2010)

  Source

1. 1MidCityen.wikipedia.org