The odds of winning a major prize at a lottery might be one in a million but a Chermside woman recently had a “lotto holiday cheer” after getting a $1 Instant Scratch-Its ticket as a Christmas gift. Her unbelievable luck made her $10,000 richer!
Still unsure of her win, the unnamed woman received the official notice from The Lott a few days later. She then headed to the NewsExtra Chermside at Westfield Chermside to validate the good news.
“This win really is a great boost for me. It means a lot! It will help me a great deal and make a world of difference to me,” the woman said. “It certainly made for a wonderful Christmas and has got me looking forward to 2021.”
NewsExtra Chermside senior supervisor Mynetta Cash believes that they are quite a lucky outlet.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
“Our last major win was actually in September,” Ms Cash said. We’ve had quite a few big wins. Hopefully we have even more major wins next year.”
At least 151 Instant Scratch-Its tickets have won the top prize in the last year, amounting to $11.8 million in total wins.
Meanwhile, the Chermside winner said she’s planning on splurging her prize money on something she has been putting off — a new toilet! She also plans on setting aside the rest of the money for a trip.
Fashion retailer Bardot has launched a massive clearance sale in 42 locations across the country, including its Westfield Chermside store. This offers customers up to 80 percent off accessories and clothing, like dresses, tops, and denim.
The sale comes after Bardot announced that it will shut down almost 58 stores across Australia in March 2020 as it undergoes reconstruction. In November 2019, the company lurched into voluntary administration and appointed Ryan Eagle and Brendan Richards of KPMG as its administrators.
This means Bardot will continue to trade on as business as usual but the administrators now control the business and its operations as turnaround and recapitalisation opportunities are being assessed.
Gift cards and credit notes will still be honoured but on a dollar-for-dollar basis only. For example, if a customer intends to redeem a $100 gift card, they will need to purchase a product of $200 in value and pay $100 in cash, by card or using AfterPay. This applies to all stock including sale items.
Store Closure
Aside from their location in Westfield Chermside, Bardot announced it will close eight other Queensland locations in just a matter of weeks. These stores are in:
Cairns
Indooroopilly
Kawana
North Lakes
Pacific Fair
Sunshine Plaza
Toowoomba
Townsville
The store closures were unfortunate but they are deemed necessary to help Bardot redefine their local market presence. KPMG is now in the process of securing a buyer to obtain new funds into the fashion chain. The appointed administrators will come up with a company-wide restructure, which will ensure that Australia will always remain the heart of the Bardot business.
Bardot was founded in 1996 with a focus on “the hottest fashion styles for women every year.” In just two years, the company expanded and opened its Highpoint, Bridge Rd and Chapel St stores in Victoria. Bardot launched its denim range in 2001 and Bardot Junior, sold in Myer stores in 2005.
Bardot Chermside is located at Level 1 of Westfield Chermside, corner Gympie and Hamilton Road. The store opens at 9:00 am from Monday to Saturday and 10:00 am on Sundays. See other participating stores at bardot-clearance website.
Get ready for an Austin, Texas-inspired Tex-Mex restaurant that is unabashedly loud, huge, and colourful in every way, as El Camino Cantina opens in Westfield Chermside this October 2019.
After a successful launch of its Bowen Hills venue last 2018, Rockpool Dining Group has announced that it will open a new El Camino Cantina in Chermside. The latest Brisbane expansion takes over the former site of Spanish restaurant, Hermosa and will have 220 casual dining seats.
El Camino Cantina Fitzroy Photo credit: El Camino Cantina / Facebook
El Camino Cantina Chermside will surely live-up to its billing as a fun casual dining venue that please the senses with its bright neon signages, sombreros, loud jukeboxes, elaborate artwork, rock posters, and colourful calavera.
Photo credit: El Camino Cantina / Facebook
Of course, El Camino Cantina will not be without its legendary Tex-Mex menu featuring its char-grilled fajitas, quesadillas, naked burritos, cadillac tacos, buffalo wings, and nachos.
El Camino’s signature giant margaritas Photo credit: El Camino Cantina / Facebook Photo credit: El Camino Cantina / Facebook
El Camino’s signature giant frozen or on the rocks margaritas top bills the drinks menu with five awesome flavours: classic, mango, strawberry, tropical Red Bull, and rita of the month. There’s also Mexican beers and over a hundred tequilas and mezcals.
El Camino Cantina Bowen Hills Photo credit: El Camino Cantina / Facebook
Plus loads of weekday specials to keep you coming back for more: $15 burrito and beer lunch special every Monday to Friday; $2 tacos every Tuesday; 10-cent chicken wings every Wednesday with the purchase of every a large soft drink, classic margarita, beer or wine; and half-price fajitas on Thursdays.
The El Camino Cantina Chermside is Rockpool Dining Group’s second outlet in Brisbane, after King Street, and the sixth nationwide.
Do you have budding music lovers in the family? If you think they’d like to mix music like DJs do, then sign them up for a different kind of school holiday event at Westfield Chermside’s DJ Academy.
By popular demand, the shopping centre will hold a DJ Academy sessio for children. This event will teach young boys and girls above 7 years old how to handle DJ equipment and to mix music and create an awesome playlist.
Happening at the first level of Westfield Chermside near the Samsung store, the DJ classes will begin from Monday, the 8th of July, until Saturday, the 13th of July 2019. Sessions are for $15 per child for 45 minutes and kids can choose their schedules between 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Then, on Thursday, the 11th of July, DJ Academy will host boogie night from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the centre’s second level events venue, Under The Dome. The kids can watch MC Dr Rhythm in action beginning 6:00 p.m., as he spins and plays dance music for this special children’s disco.
Every Monday at Casa Cibo in Westfield Chermside is 2 for 1 Pizza night this April! From 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., diners may indulge in their choices of savoury and authentic Italian pizza prepared by their main pizzaiolo, Mario.
The buy-one-get-one-free offer is good for all types of pizza, including its gluten-free and vegan selections. You can order two different pizza variants when availing of the special Monday offer for dinner.
Casa Cibo’s pizza is baked in a woodfire oven imported from Naples, Italy. Thus, diners get that authentic flavour and crispy crust. You may check the menu online before dining in or ordering out.
Among the variants, however, it is the Mario’s Pepperoni which comes highly recommended. It’s topped with the basics — pepperoni, oregano, parmesan cheese, and olive oil. If you’re craving for the best comfort food, then this is what you should get.
Casa Cibo also serves other Italian dishes like pane, pasta, and risotto. They also have a selection of wine, cocktail drinks, and desserts.
Chermside holiday shoppers, take note. It pays to stay calm and extra careful when parking at shopping centres such as Westfield Chermside, advises the State’s peak motoring body, RACQ. So, don’t let any untoward incident at the carpark ruin all the fun in shopping, especially during the summer holidays.
November to December are the months with the most number of theft, vandalism and crash incidents happening in shopping centre car parks, according to insurance claims data gathered by RACQ. In the past three years, insurance claims from shopping centres have cost more than $72 million.
“Crashes and scrapes are common in shopping centre car parks year-round, but our data shows December and November are by far the worst months as people try to finalise their Christmas shopping, or just escape the heat,” RACQ spokesperson Lucinda Ross said.
Among the five shopping centres with most insurance claims, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre topped the list with 349 total claims over the past three years, from 1 November 2015 to 31 October 2018.
Westfield Chermside and Westfield Carindale came in second and third, respectively.
It is important, therefore, to reduce the risk of getting involved in theft or vehicle damage when in carparks which, Ms Ross said, can be done by doing a few simple things.
“With an expected influx of Christmas shoppers over the coming weeks we’re urging drivers to exercise simple courtesy and always obey carpark signage and normal road rules,” Ms Ross said.
“It’s important for people to take the time to completely secure their vehicles and make sure there are no bags or other valuables left in sight to tempt passing thieves.
“Treat your keys like cash, always keeping them in a safe, secure place on you when you’re out and about,” she said.
Top five shopping centres for insurance claims (1 November 2015 – 31 October 2018):
Judges choose retail properties or precincts based on their scores in the design, marketing, presentation, and food retailing criteria. Those that are selected in more than one category vie for the title of Queensland Retail Property of the Year – the state’s most prestigious retail award.
Westfield Chermside’s Impressive Expansion
Photo credit: Westfield Chermside/Facebook
For 2018, judges for the prestigious retail award were certainly impressed by Westfield Chermside’s second level expansion. Moreover, judges describe it as a compelling attraction that takes full advantage of Queensland’s sub-tropical climate, reflecting the highest standards of excellence in retail property.
Westfield Chermside is also lauded for its combination of beautiful design, excellent food and dining options, abundance of fashion retailers, and fantastic entertainment opportunities.
Apart from being Queensland’s Retail Property of the Year, Westfield Chermside also received the ‘Excellence in Food Retailing’ award.
This year, the first ever Retail Innovation Award was given to Kawana Shoppingworld. The shopping precinct won the new category because of its cost-neutral, closed loop Organics Project. In fact, the project was able to recycle 71% of all waste on the site.
Excellence in Design
Photo credit: Munich Brauhaus/Facebook
The Excellence in Design Awards acknowledge retail properties and precincts that demonstrate outstanding and creative design, material selection, social interface, and innovation. Following is the list for this year’s winners:
Boutique Retail : Allgas Building – Munich Brauhaus, South Bank
The Excellence in Marketing Awards recognise innovative events and campaigns that deliver outstanding results for the retail property or precinct as well as the community. Following is the list for this year’s winners:
Boutique Retail : Brisbane International Terminal – Lunar New Year
Neighbourhood Centres : Chatswood Central – $40K Giveaway
Sub Regional Centres : Kawana Shoppingworld – Meet Your Local
Regional Centres : Grand Plaza – Marsden State High Partnership
Judges’ Commendation : Toombul – Reinventing An Icon
Super/Major Regional Centres : Grand Central Shopping Centre – Spring Festival
Excellence in Presentation
Robina Town Centre’s new kids play space. Photo credit: Robina Town Centre/Facebook
The Excellence in Presentation Awards are presented to the property or precinct that shows an exceptional commitment to the highest standards of maintenance, cleaning, and customer experience. Following is the list for this year’s winners:
Boutique Retail : City Arcade and City Lane
Neighbourhood Centres : River Quay
Sub Regional Centres : Taigum Square
Regional Centres : Toowong Village
Super/Major Regional Centres : Robina Town Centre
Judges’ Commendation : Stockland Rockhampton
Excellence in Food Retailing
Credit: King Street/Facebook
The Excellence in Food Retailing Awards acknowledge food retail properties and precincts that have demonstrated outstanding design, tenant mix and innovation while exhibiting a return on investment for the retail property or precinct. Westfield Chermside is also named as this year’s winner. King Street, on the other hand, received the Judges’ Commendation.
Other winners for this year include:
Retail Property of the Year
Runner Up : King Street
Community Engagement Award
Grand Central Shopping Centre – Grand Central & TAFE Partnership
From 2-4 August, witness a spectacular show of lights at Westfield Chermside. It’s another year of the Festival Of Lights and levels 1 and 2 of the dining precincts at the venue will be illuminated.
Consider this event “lit,” because not only will you have a lights festival, but there will also be fireworks shows, live music, roaming entertainers, interactive projections, and activities such as UV face painting.
The schedule for this three-day event is:
7:00 p.m. – Lighting Show with Fireworks
8:00 p.m. – Lighting Show
9:00 p.m. – Lighting Show
Best Spots To Watch
Catch the lights show at the Food Court entrance on Level 1. If you’re on the second level, then wherever you stand, you will be able to witness the laser light projections and the fireworks as well.
Whilst other businesses are busy targeting Millennials, a Brisbane mother-and-daughter tandem has another market in mind – Generation Z. They have identified a gap in the market for this generation and has launched their Harper Bee brand for them.
Credit: Harper Bee Facebook
Gen Z, born from 1995 to 2010, are the children of Generation X and the ones who have grown up with the internet. Considered as “digital natives,” Gen Z are distinctly wired to all information around the world.
According to the Urban Dictionary, Gen Z are more cautious and conservative because they are born when there is a technological revolution, war on terror, and global campaign for multiculturalism.
Gen Z may sound like a hard market to capture, but Brisbane mother and daughter Janine Burford and Jessica Wood are certainly willing to try.
Jess and her mum Janine Credit: Harper Bee Website
Harper Bee stores opened in Westfield Chermside and Toowoomba this year.
We celebrate each and every girl’s uniqueness and individuality and are so happy to have them as part of our Harper Bee community! Credit: Harper Bee Facebook
Ms Burford perceives Gen Z as very particular and on-trend. She said that currently, there are no shops that cater to their needs. Realising this opportunity, she and her daughter created products that are no longer babyish but at the same time don’t look like something that mothers would buy for themselves.
Credit: Harper Bee Facebook
Harper Bee has all the stuff that Gen Z will otherwise have difficulty finding from other shops. The store has decorations for the bedrooms and desks, the latest technology, cute jewellery, beauty products, weekend clothing, over night stuff for sleepovers, and gift options for the BFFs.
Credit: Harper Bee Facebook
Credit: Harper Bee Facebook
But the mother-and-daughter tandem does not want to stop there. They are calling on Gen Z and their parents to tell them what else are they looking for. Anyone is welcome to send in their suggestions here.
Harper Bee merchandise can also be purchase online, just click here.
A new two-storey Italian restaurant has opened at Westfield Chermside last December. Casa Cibo, which means “food house” in Italian, promises a great dining experience with its authentic Italian ambience, from its wood-fired ovens to its Italian interiors.
Credit: Casa Cibo Facebook
Executive chef Joey Goldman wants diners at Casa Cibo to enjoy great Italian home cooking and that sense of belonging that comes from eating together with the family that is the hallmark of an Italian home.
Born and raised in Liverpool, Joey has been in Australia for the past five years. Three and a half of which he has been running the six Jamie’s Italian restaurants across the country. Joey has now joined the Casa family to give his own twist to some traditional Italian dishes! Credit: Casa Cibo Facebook
This is also why Casa Cibo is known for its Family Style Sharing Menu that is best for groups of eight or more.
Credit: Casa Cibo Facebook
Chef Goldman has been putting Casa Cibo’s Italian wood-fired ovens into good use as he makes pizza on-site from scratch. He has also included lamb ragu, focaccia bread, and porchetta to the overall menu, with wood-roasted vegetables as appetizers. Guests can also take pleasure in other sumptuous sets which include charcuterie and cheese boards, salmon salmoriglio, Amalfi roast chicken, and tagliata rump steak.
Two Stefano Ferrara wood fired pizza ovens all the way from Naples, Italy. Credit: Casa Cibo Facebook
Like in any other family, Casa Cibo also focuses on the most important members of the family – the kids. The place has prepared menus, as well as activities that can keep the tots busy to make the whole dining experience for the family trouble-free. The restaurants gives all kids a paper mat with characters which they can colour and games which they can finish as the adults wine and dine. They are also given basil seeds for them to plant. Chef Goldman assures parents that the recipes in the kids’ menu are very well planned. Sous chef Anthony Kentrotis shares that all meals include nutrition notes and are divided into go, glow, grow food category.
Anthony Kentrotis, aka Ali, is a local Brisbane born and raised talent. Credit: Casa Cibo Facebook
Families and groups can choose any one of three family-style private dining rooms: Nonna’s Table with a capacity of up to 12 people, La Famiglia Dining Room which has been designed with large glass doors, and The Don’s which can accommodate up to 24 people with its massive table.
Casa Cibo is located at Level 2, Shop R68 Westfield Chermside.
