History
Initially opening in November 1970, the centre was reconstructed and re-opened on 11 March 1980 by the Victorian Governor of the time, Sir Henry Winneke, with a Kmart and Coles New World being the major tenants. In September 1988, the adjacent homemaker centre opened. The centre was later purchased by the Westfield Group in July 1995 and was eventually extended and redeveloped into a much larger complex, which was completed by November 2001. The centre hosts a variety of major chains including Kmart, Coles, Woolworths, Big W, Target, Aldi and approximately 320 specialty stores.
A major expansion of the complex took place between 2011 and 2012. Approved by the City of Casey in December 2007, the extension featured a new two level 12,000m2 Myer store, a new 4200m2 Coles store, in a new location near the former BI-LO, with the existing store shell being reconfigured with space for two new minor anchor stores, as well as providing increased retail space for Target, which increased from 6884m2 to 8368m2. David Jones was set to open a store in the new expansion, however terimated the contract with Westfield in July 2010, with Myer replacing David Jones in the expansion. David Jones had been trying to get out of the contract since 2003 as Fountain Gate did not fit the company's strategy or target demographic. Four new minor anchor retail spaces were constructed, as well as 114 new specialty store spaces and 1500 new car parking spaces, with new ground level parking surrounding the centre and new rooftop parking above the new mall areas.
One of the major drawcards of the centre is the entertainment precinct known as The Street. This precinct features a number of entertainment stores, book stores, cafes and a Village Cinemas.
It is the location of the first ever Krispy Kreme in Victoria.
Read more about this topic: Westfield Fountain Gate
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