Geelong’s vibrant and rejuvenated central business district is a shopper’s paradise, with all the big brands, boutiques, a wide range of discount clearance centres and plenty of places to relax and grab a bite to eat or a freshly made coffee.
The city has two huge shopping complexes, Market Square and Westfield. Market Square is home to a large variety of specialty stores, fashion, services and national names like Harris Scarfe, Lincraft and popular electronics store JB Hi Fi . Westfield or Bay City as it has been known is the biggest of the complexes. Its major tenants include Myer, who has been onsite for generations, Target and Big W. There centre has huge food courts and over a hundred stores including many of the big brands and plenty of parking. Malop Street between these two complexes has been recently transformed as part of the first stage of Geelong’s City int he Park, now there is relaxing plantings, seating and gardens to entice shoppers into the city centre.
Moorabool Street with it’s beautiful Washington palm trees is home to a mix of specialty stores, bargain centres, cafes, restaurants and services stretching from the waterfront and nearly a kilometer up the hill towards the striking Kardinia Park lighting towers. The Waterfront end is home to some of the city’s best dining and entertainment including legendary Lambys. Sailors Rest, The Black Bull Tapas Lounge, Thai Noodles and the funky Mexican inspired Mojo Mama and for those wanting a refreshment or a bit of a flutter there’s the Phoenix Hotel.
The main retail area of Moorabool Street begins at Malop Street and extends up the hill, this is where you will find main city bus precinct, specialty stores and many of the bargain stores plus a selection of dining.
There are two main shopping streets running east to west, Moorabool Street stretches from Johnstone Park to Eastern Park and offers several blocks of great shopping. The street has the major entrances to the huge shopping malls and quite a few quality specialty stores. The next block south is Ryrie Street, home to The Village Theatre with a dozen screens and plenty of cafes, bars and a few pubs where you can get a bite and drink before seeing the latest film. Ryrie Street is home to fashion, electrical and some of the city’s largest chemists which can be found towards the hospital precinct.
Between Malop and Ryrie Street lies Little Malop Street, home to the Geelong Mall which runs between Yarra and Moorabool. The Mall is sadly a bit tired and poorly located, not a good representation of our vibrant city. In sharp contrast to western the area of Little Malop Street that stretches to or cultural precinct that is thriving and full of dining, entertainment and specialty shopping.
To the west of the T&G clock tower in Ryrie Street there is some good shopping but its main focus is on dining with several good Indian and Asian restaurants and a range of service businesses.
Other than the huge stocktaking sales in January and July the other huge day in the city for shopping is Melbourne Cup day, the first Tuesday in November. The Geelong CBD puts on a huge sidewalk sale with bargains galore. Over 100 stores participate in this fun day and thousands flock to pick up some bargains for Christmas.