David Jones closes Wollongong store after 60 years, leaving CBD retail void
David Jones is closing its Wollongong store after Christmas, ending six decades of presence in the city's CBD.
Reported by Illawarra Mercury
ShareWhy it matters
Major retailers anchor CBD foot traffic and spending; their closure often signals broader shifts in how and where people shop.
In Australia. Wollongong shoppers will lose a major destination store; the closure reflects Australia's ongoing retail consolidation and shift to online shopping.
Key facts
- 60 years
- Years in Wollongong
- 1966
- Store opened
- 2017
- Current location since
- Wollongong
- City
- David Jones has announced its Wollongong store will close after Christmas, marking the end of 60 years in the city.
- The store opened in 1966 and relocated to a new CBD location in 2017.
- Locals and retail experts are debating what should replace it.
- Suggestions range from a cinema (which Wollongong lacks) to youth entertainment spaces, food venues, and even data centres.
- One shopper noted that many people travel from surrounding areas specifically to shop at David Jones.
- Retail analyst Simon Kersten says the nature of shopping has shifted; stores now focus on experience and demonstration rather than just selling products.
- He notes that Wollongong adapted when Myer closed previously, with small businesses and cafés filling gaps.
