Reading Newmarket is the result of years and years of promises, hopes, disappointments, and,…read morewithout a doubt, quite a bit of blood, sweat, and tears. Once a giant carpark, it now seeks to be the face of the New Newmarket: trendy, on the pulse, something for everyone.
And it... kind of succeeds.
The greatest problem I have with these sorts of shopping centres is how they start out with such grand ambitions and then quickly realise that most people just want run-of-the-mill takeaway (by those being the only stores that survive). After a couple of years, though, it seems to have finally settled (though goodness knows someone needs to tell prospective owners that the dress shop place is cursed for dress shops).
The highlights here are: Vinnies (which I've reviewed elsewhere); and the florist (which is extremely expensive, but also stunning).
The Coles is your average Coles (but until it was here, one had to abysmal one in Ashgrove, or even further to The Gap or Toowong), and there's also a Grill'd, Subway, Indian takeaway, Red Box Noodle bar, Baker's Delight and a sushi takeaway (all of which are as good as one would expect). Upstairs are several medical places: a dentist, QML, and a mobility services centre (which is now accessible from a lift in the lower carpark). Finally, there's a post office, a discount bookstore, a... glasses shop (?), a newsagents (the second, which appeared about 6 months after the first went out of business), and there's always some new dress shop that has popped up to replace the last one that went out of business.
It is a bit of a shame that there couldn't be more... life in the complex: some new exciting restaurants, or innovative book/music/video stores. There did used to be a Mango House homewares store here, which was absolutely fantastic, but unfortunately that closed. Hopefully, though, the area will continue to grow, and perhaps we will see greater things from it in future (and please don't let the florist or Vinnies go!)
