Wynnum Central continues to change – for the better

Out with the old, in with the new.

Have you been into Wynnum lately? There’s a lot of change happening in Edith Street and Bay Terrace, with some shops that have been in Wynnum for a very long time moving out and new shops moving in. At WynnumCentral we’re delighted to see a number of the new shops bringing new and interesting products into town.

In the past 18 months we’ve seen no less than 28 shops close their doors, with the latest being Casheez, and OPSM, the optometrists. Much like other longstanding Wynnum business like Wynnum Hardware, the pet shop in Florence Street and the toy shop in Edith Street, there had been an optometrist on that site for around 50 years.

Coming in to replace these older shops we have art and craft focused retailers such as The Collective Store being joined by other artisan style shops such as Zillpa (http://www.zillpa.com/) Silver Lining Indulgences, and a vintage/retro themed popup shop, all in Bay Terrace.

There is also a new cafe due to open soon in Bay Terrace called Frenchies, and a number of new financial, legal and mortgage businesses occupying traditional retail shops due to the proximity of a number of real estate offices.

This rebirth of a new style ‘high street’ is probably how retail will go not just in Wynnum, but across Australia and the world. In the UK the huge change faced by high street retailers has been acknowledged by the appointment of a government ‘minister for high streets’. With shopping malls now the default location for major brands and franchises, high streets are having to reinvent themselves as hybrid retail/non retail centres, offering a more independent, eclectic mix of shops. Entertainment plays a big role in this and we’d predict a growth in food options and cafes in Wynnum Central, to the benefit of all existing retailers.

Businesses like Zillpa may also be showing the way forward, with a big internet focus and many online only customers, with the shopfront in Wynnum a combined workshop/showroom more than a traditional ‘shop’. This may be the answer to the problem of customers window shopping in existing stores and then going to buy online. Now customers have the option of buying online, or if they wish visiting the ‘store’ to see, touch and feel the product.

Wynnum is leading the way.