The future of Bairnsdale’s mall is expected to be considered at a future East Gippsland Shire Council meeting after it has become a virtual desert since Woolworths vacated its leased premises last year.
Since Woolworths moved further up Nicholson Street, where it opened a new store beside Aldi, other businesses in the immediate vicinity of the mall have been struggling to survive.
Several have closed and remain empty.
The latest casualty is Easy Eats Cafe’, which closed its doors last month after reportedly struggling to stay afloat.
An East Gippsland Shire councillor conceded the “mall is dead”.
The empty building, formerly occupied by Woolworths, is now for lease by the National Retail Group (NRG).

IMAGE: The Nicholson Street Mall is lifeless following Woolworths’ departure from the immediate precinct. INSET: Butcher, Jarryd Wilkins, who owns Homestyle Gourmet Butchers, is still smiling despite bleeding cash since Woolworths pulled out of the Bairnsdale mall. K171-7204/7203