Its been several months since I strolled through the CBD.
Last month, while walking around the city, I found that the major arteries (George & Pitt Street) are having a makeover. Pitt Street Mall in fact is having an overhaul while parts of George Street have already got new stores. These stores tend to be repetitive, much in the manner of finding Gap stores every few metres in the US a decade or so ago. Oxfam, which used to be on Pitt Street Mall has relocated as have a number of smaller stores. The renovation will likely increase rents so one can expect that few of them will return. Small business seems to be slowly vanishing from the city. Unlike Melbourne which has built is reputation on small eclectic stores in its laneways, Sydney's city centre has become a vast emporium for major retailers.
Last month, while walking around the city, I found that the major arteries (George & Pitt Street) are having a makeover. Pitt Street Mall in fact is having an overhaul while parts of George Street have already got new stores. These stores tend to be repetitive, much in the manner of finding Gap stores every few metres in the US a decade or so ago. Oxfam, which used to be on Pitt Street Mall has relocated as have a number of smaller stores. The renovation will likely increase rents so one can expect that few of them will return. Small business seems to be slowly vanishing from the city. Unlike Melbourne which has built is reputation on small eclectic stores in its laneways, Sydney's city centre has become a vast emporium for major retailers.
Pitt Street Mall on sale
Sydney has a reputation as a soulless city of shiny surfaces. Much as one would like to resist stereotype, sometimes it seems the reputation is deserved.
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