NEWS
Fortitude Valley’s growing reputation as a hub for upmarket furniture, homewares and motor vehicle retailers has been boosted by the arrival of a century-old NSW based appliance store making its first major foray into Queensland.
And the good news for those who fear the Valley heart has been abandoned to fastfood outlets and convenience stores, Winning Appliances will open their mega store in Brunswick Street only metres from the Valley malls at the start of September.
State manager Robin Maini (pictured above) says the new store at 201-211 Brunswick Street will be Australia’s largest upmarket whitegoods retail appliance store.
He cited nearby quality furniture, homewares and luxury car showrooms running along Wickham Street and down to James Street and beyond as one of the catalyst for Winning’s move to the city’s second business district. “We felt this is the place that people come to for upmarket purchases for the home. The Valley is the place to be.
“We did no look anywhere else but the Valley for our building. We saw this one and fell in love with it”. The family-owned business bought the building in May for $4.4 million and refurbishment and fitout will cost between $2 and 2.5 million extra. The building was originally known as Foresters Hall after the ancient order of the Foresters who built it in 1808. It was designed by prominent architect John Hall.
It became the Cook’s Picture Palace between 1910 and 1922. The property was the venue of the Manhattan and Site nightclubs in the 1980s and ’90s. It was until recently a furniture showroom.
Mr Maini said the new Winning Appliances store would boast the largest range of European and American appliances, with several upmarket brands – Sub-Zero and Wolf — exclusive to Winnings in Queensland A major innovation would be a midmarket to niche boutique bathroom showroom – a first for any Winnings outlet in Australia. Another feature would be a large kitchen area where chefs would cook and demonstrate equipment for customers.
Mr Maini believes the store will become a “the hub for architects, designers and homemakers to come and see upmarket appliances and bathroom showrooms”. And the Valley could be just the beginning of the store’s Queensland expansion. Although the company has spent its first century based in NSW, he said all profits from Queensland would now go back into Queensland expansion and development.
In an area where street marking is becoming a problem, Winning Appliances believe they have that covered too. They have entered into a mid to long-term lease with CityCare for a 30-space carpark in CityCare’s now vacant block next to the new retail store.
Mr Maini said his company had a strong philanthropic bent and in developing a firm friendship with its new neighbours had donated a number of new appliances towards CityCare’s work in the community.
