I shop here quite regularly because we live nearby, and the Sandy Bay Coles has limited variety. I know Northgate is 'just another shopping mall' but we can't really judge it on the basis of it not being anything other than 'just another shopping mall'.
To review Northgate you have to ask: What IS a shopping mall? It should be a convenient, enclosed space that provides you with easy access to shopping variety without the inclemencies of variable weather. Northgate satisfies this description, and more.
I can buy healthfood, vitiate my purchase of healthfood with a trip to Banjo's for a cauliflower and cheese pie, get a new screen cover for my phone, buy some trousers and a new bag, decide whether I want a new phone, pretend I want jewellery, a manicure, plus size clothes, tiny weeny teenage clothes, and entertain my child on one of the many cars/weird roundabouts, eat a hot dog, go to Medicare, buy bathroom mats, and do my grocery shopping. As shopping malls go, it's pretty fantastic. Also, it's all on one level so I don't get confused like I do in Eastlands.
Let's think about practical pros and cons. Firstly, there are lots of entrances with many car parking spaces at the many entrances, depending on where you want to shop. Quick trip to Target? No worries, two convenient entrances close by. Quick trip to Coles? No worries, two convenient entrances close by. Quick trip to the CBA? Two convenient entrances, etc.
The negative things about shopping malls are actually here OK: people can be really interesting to watch and I have personally never seen a weird fight - Northgate is the shopping mall equivalent of the Christmas soccer match on the Western Front, everyone has laid down their arms to just chill out. It is NOT the Hobart bus mall, people. The charity spruikers are all polite and don't push or try to pretend they have charm to wheedle you into a monthly donation, and the guy who is supposed to be trying to get you to go to 'Smart City College' looks suitably embarrassed and keeps to himself.
There is a decent children's/family room down a travelator with a play area, breastfeeding couches, adult and kid toilet cubicle (together at last!), and I love Skill Testers - there are so many I have to keep myself from wasting grocery money on the chance to win a deformed Care Bear (obviously produced out of official license).
There are some reasonable cafes when you want to lay down your load or park your trolley - don't expect gourmet coffee but there are some damn fine pies and plain toasties around. The food court may be full of people slowly killing their children with KFC but hey, free will. Or the media and socio-economic oppression, whatever - labels, man.
Primarily, Northgate is peaceful, clean, and convenient. The parking is plentiful, the trolleys are plentiful and the solid brand names that we both hate and depend upon are there. Why only four stars? Because no one should like a shopping mall five stars worth. read more