MILDURA Central traders have thrown their support behind their beleaguered business counterparts in Langtree Mall as they enjoy a bumper summer of sales.
In stark contrast to the tumbleweeds blowing through the mall, there was plenty of foot traffic at Mildura Central when Sunraysia Daily spoke with several business owners at the Fifteenth Street shopping centre this week.
Marissa Burrows, of Mildura Showcase Jewellers, said trade had been “consistently good” over the past two months.
“We really didn’t know what to expect after such a turbulent year, but we’re quite happy with our recent results,” she said.
“We have the (Woolworths) supermarket directly across from us and it really helps with the foot traffic.”
The local husband-and-wife franchisees of Boost Juice, which opened in November, reported business turnover had been “great” in the lead-up to Christmas.
“This is our first business and the response we’ve had since we opened has been super-supportive,” Sara Belbin said.
“Just before Christmas has been our busiest period of the school holidays so far.”
The popular national chain came to Mildura after the owners of the Juice Bar, which had been operating at the centre for five years, were issued with a lease non-renewal notice early in 2020.
“When we opened this franchise, people assumed we didn’t come from Mildura,” Ms Belbin said.
“But hubby (Matt) and I are born and bred in Mildura – and we have lived here all our lives.
“We’re thankful for all the support we’ve received so far.”
Both Mrs Burrows and Mrs Belbin said that while trade was strong at Mildura Central, they felt for their counterparts in the mall and their struggles.
“It’s quite sad because we want to support all of our local businesses,” Mrs Burrows said.
“But when you see so many of them closing there, it’s hard to know what we can do there because our hands are tied with what we can do with the mall.
“Whether it’s opening it to one-way traffic or opening it all up to traffic, I’m not sure what the answer is. But what’s clear is that the current (mall) model is not working any more for the businesses.”
Mrs Belbin said Boost Juice outlets were “generally located inside shopping centres”.
“Being a franchise, location wasn’t something we had a lot of say in. But we would never have considered setting up a business in the mall because of the state it is in,” she said.
“We get great foot traffic here – but that is far from the case in the mall.
“People don’t have the will to go there. The only reason I go there is to go to Best & Less for the kids’ clothes.
“When I look around the mall, it’s just tragic. I feel so sorry for the business owners who are trying to survive in there.
“I’ve heard whispers of a few more shutting shop, so it’s not good.”
Sunraysia Daily spoke with three other Mildura Central traders about the mall’s struggles.
Each asked to be remain anonymous, but also expressed concerns about how the state of the mall was dragging down the broader business community in Mildura.
