UPDATE (August 6): Books Kinokuniya have confirmed that they will open their doors at Melbourne Central at 10am on Friday, August 28.
Melbourne Central is getting a $170 million expansion, with a major new dining, entertainment and retail hub. This expansion will add about 7,800 square metres of additional space across levels 3 and 4, and will feature a large-format entertainment hub, new dining zones and over ten new food retailers. It will also include Melbourne’s first flagship Books Kinokuniya store, a beloved Japanese bookstore with locations in Singapore, Taiwan, the United State and more. The expansion is set to be complete in 2028.
Melbourne Central expansion
Once the development is complete, the shopping centre will have about 63,000 square metres of retail space. It currently has over 260 retailers across five levels, and attracts over 55 million visitors a year. With the expansion, there will be more venues with extended trading hours, opening up to 18 hours a day, and encouraging more visitors well into the night. While details are scarce at the moment, the ten food retailers will include a mix of fine-dining and casual restaurants.
“The introduction of Melbourne’s first flagship Books Kinokuniya store brings a unique
point of difference to the city’s retail landscape,” said Chris Barnett, Head of Retail at The GPT Group. “Combined with premium entertainment and dining experiences, the development will unlock significant value and create an even more compelling destination for visitors to meet, shop, dine and play in the heart of the city.”
Books Kinokuniya
Kinokuniya is a paradise for bibliophiles, with a vast range of books, manga, graphic novels, children’s literature, Chinese books, Japanese books, stationary and more. It is the largest bookstore chain in Japan, and up until now, Melburnians have had to fly to Sydney to wander among its cosy shelves.
“As a UNESCO City of Literature, we believe Melbourne’s creative and literary culture aligns deeply with Kinokuniya’s identity,” said Satoshi Yada, Managing Director of Books Kinokuniya Australia. “As we explored opportunities in Victoria, Melbourne Central stood out in particular because of its unique and easily accessible location, and its strong connection with younger audiences and contemporary lifestyle.”
First, they will establish a temporary concept store on Level 2. This is currently scheduled to open around the end of August. Then, they will open a permanent flagship store in the first half of 2028.
The Melbourne store will have plenty of books, as well as an events space for author appearances and craft workshops.
For now, you can learn more about them and browse through their Sydney catalogue here.
