FKP Opens Up Prominent Melbourne CBD Corner

QUEENSLAND born, Sydney based property developer and investor FKP has opened up the ground retail level of a CBD office building occupying the prominent south-west corner of Lonsdale Street and Hardware Lane.

After being used as a non-retail break-out area by students at Taylors College for years, the 280 square metre space, formerly identified in the street by its dark tinted window-film, has been sub-leased to a unique new business which hopes to make an impact on Hardware Lane, considered one of the city’s highest character strips.

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Lorna Jane Leases Hundredth Store in Little Collins Street

WOMENS activewear retailer Lorna Jane has chosen a former city boutique to establish its hundredth store.

Established in 1989 by businesswoman Lorna Jane Clarkson, the retailer is embarking on an aggressive growth strategy, saying it wants to open another 25 stores nationally this year.

The 111 square metre shop at 267 Little Collins Street (pictured, right) was recently vacated by Pierucci.

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Iconic Bookshop Returns to Melbourne CBD After Hiatus

WEATHERING the rise of what it called (in a 1993 Age feature) the “big boy” retailer – boffin retailer The Little Bookroom has leased space on the same block its bullish rival, Angus & Robertson may soon be moving out of, after going into administration last week.

The Little Bookroom has leased a 30 square metre shop in Degraves Street, one of Melbourne’s most popular and expensive laneway retail strips.

In doing so The Little Bookroom returns to town after a six year hiatus.

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Upmarket Furniture Retailer Quits Collins Street’s Georges Building

Upmarket furniture and homeware retailer Radstock + Kendall will vacate its prominent retail space at the Georges building at 162 Collins Street, and lease about 250 square metres at the ground floor of Valad’s 575 Bourke Street office tower.

Knight Frank retail leasing director Gary Loo said the retailer is following office workers and city shoppers which are increasingly commuting around the western edge of the CBD.

He said interstate travelers accessing the CBD from Southern Cross station was another factor driving tenant interest in the area.

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Radstock and Kendall Furniture Goes West in Melbourne

Upmarket furniture and homeware retailer Radstock + Kendall will vacate its prominent retail space at the Georges building at 162 Collins Street, and lease about 250 square metres at the ground floor of Valad’s 575 Bourke Street office tower.

Knight Frank retail leasing director Gary Loo said the retailer is following office workers and city shoppers which are increasingly commuting around the western edge of the CBD.

He said interstate travelers accessing the CBD from Southern Cross station was another factor driving tenant interest in the area.

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Dainty Leases Prominent Federation Square Building to Host Local Leg of ABBAWorld

ABBADAINTY Consolidated Entertainment has chosen boutique space formerly occupied by the Australian Racing Museum, to host the local leg of the ABBAWorld tour from June.

ABBAWorld will be based at Federation Square’s Yarra Building, which overlooks the Yarra River, between the Transport building (currently for sale at around $30 million) and the BMW Edge building.

The Yarra Building will be reconfigured into an interactive museum with 25 themed rooms, ABBA memorabilia – and a space visitors can digitally appear in film clips and on album covers with the band.

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Bourke Street’s Prominent Emporio Shoes Building For Lease

BOURKE Street’s prominent former Emporio Shoes building has hit the rental market.

The 97-year old four-level retail premises, formerly known as the Francis & Co building at 280 – 282 Bourke Street, includes 74 square metres of ground floor space, and another 465 square metres in the basement and on upper levels.

Emporio shoes traded from the building (formerly occupied by the Body Shop) for about fifteen years until its parent company, the Figgins Group, went into administration in 2009.

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