Fairfield Gardens Reopens, Prepares to Give Thanks
In January, Fairfield Gardens was struck by the Brisbane floods that devastated the city. Every shop in the center had to be gutted, demolished and rebuilt thanks to the flood damage. The water peaked at 1.1 meters throughout the center, and silt, residue and trash had to be cleared out.
Even worse, most of the center’s retailers were unable to make insurance claims for flood damage. So not only was the rebuilding effort a huge physical task, it’s also been financially and emotionally draining for everyone involved. Some retailers lost their homes in the process.
So it is with great joy and relief that the center will reopen its doors this week. It’s starting with a ceremonial opening on Thursday, when the doors officially open for the first time in over four months. On Saturday, the center is holding lots of fun activities to celebrate, including bag giveaways, balloons, face-painting, entertainers, cooking demonstrations and more.
Miraculously, the center will be opening with only a single vacancy. So it’s using the the hoarding of that vacancy to express its appreciation with a “Wall of Thanks.” Customers and staff will be invited to sign the wall or leave a message to say “thanks!” to all the volunteers who made the re-opening possible. They’ll also be giving thanks to the retailers who held on and refused to abandon their community despite the incredibly difficult times. And the retailers want to say thanks, too, to the shoppers who are returning to their center after such a long break.
Fairfield Gardens marketing manager Kelly Beaverson said, “The lengthy closure of Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre left a huge void in the community and we are very much looking forward to reopening and reconnecting with our customers again.”
