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Coronavirus Melbourne: Shoppers flock to Kmart as lockdown lifted
Melburnians who flocked to shopping centres at the stroke of midnight as lockdown restrictions eased have been slammed as ‘selfish’ by angry residents fearful of a third coronavirus wave.
Hundreds of shoppers lined up outside Kmart stores across the city for hours on Tuesday night as the homeware store became one of the first retailers to throw open its doors again to customers.
Retailers in the Victorian capital were allowed to open for business again from Wednesday as the city comes out of its crushing lockdown after 111 days.
To cater to the high demand, while adhering to capacity rules allowing only 20 people in store and 50 outside at a time, Kmart has also offered a booking system in 38 store locations around Melbourne.
Kmart fans queued from as early as 6pm to make sure they were first in line and large crowds were pictured at Kmart Burwood in Melbourne’s east.
But not everyone was excited by the opening, with several residents blasting the shoppers for risking another spike in cases.
‘Bruh I know how amazing Kmart is but man we’re gonna get wave three if y’all keep this up,’ one woman wrote.
Melburnians who flocked to Kmart at the stroke of midnight to snap up homeware bargains have been labelled ‘selfish’ by angry residents (pictured, queues outside a Melbourne store on Tuesday night)
Residents lined up outside the chain’s stores across the city for hours on Tuesday night (pictured, queues outside the Burwood East store)
Large crowds were pictured at Kmart Burwood in Melbourne’s east (pictured) and Kmart fans lined up as early as 6pm to make sure they were first in line
‘Are people seriously going to Kmart at midnight, just because they can?? This kind of crap will have us seeing a third wave in no time,’ another wrote.
‘Cool your jets, Melbourne, people being selfish is what got us into this mess in the first place. Let’s be sensible, geezus.’
‘Third wave here we come if people crowd into Kmart,’ one Melburnian added.
Another wrote: ‘The very people shopping at midnight will blame Dan personally for a 3rd wave and btw shame on Kmart’.
Homewares rival Spotlight also had long lines as it joined Kmart in welcoming shoppers back for the first time since retail stores in Melbourne were forced to shut at the beginning of August.
Patrons have been asked to visit the website or Social Q booking app to pick their preferred Kmart store and secure a place in case the store becomes too busy.
To book a space, which is offered but not enforced, shoppers are also asked to enter the number of people on the trip, before selecting a preferred time from a calendar with available slots, separated by intervals of 20 minutes.
Several residents have blasted the shoppers for risking another spike in cases by gathering i n large groups
People are seen shopping at Chadstone Shopping Centre on Wednesday as restrictions are eased (pictured on Wendesday)
Large crowds were also pictured at a Spotlight in Bayswater, far-eastern Melbourne as restrictions finally eased in the Victorian capital (pictured on Tuesday night)
Lines snaked around the normal queueing area and extended into the surrounding aisles as customers rushed to get their bargain-buying fix (pictured, Burwood East early Wednesday)
Customers who fail to book during peak periods will be turned away and asked to reserve a spot in a ‘virtual queue’ until the store clears.
‘If you come during peak trade (when our store is at capacity) we have a new service available to help make your shopping trip more convenient,’ the retailer said on its Facebook page.
‘This service will allow you to carry on shopping until we’re ready to safely welcome you into store. We’ll send you an SMS notification as soon as we’re ready for you.’
Residents lined up for hours at a 24-hour Kmart in Melbourne but still had to wait their turn in the store’s online booking system (pictured, one Melbourne store at midnight)
‘I’m so excited, I just don’t even know what to say,’ one shopper said as Melburnians celebrated their freedom in style
Melbourne Kmart stores have enforced online booking procedures to make sure its stores are adhering to capacity rules allowing only 20 people inside at a time
Two hardy masked-up shoppers line up outside a Melbourne Kmart as Melburnians celebrate being able to shop at retail stores once again
Melburnians meanwhile are finally free to drink a pint, chow down on a steak, or see their mums.
As midnight struck across the long-suffering city, the shackles of Premier Daniel Andrews’ restrictions were thrown off – at least a little.
Two adults from one household can now visit each other’s homes accompanied by any children, reuniting families and best mates at long last.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes are free to open once again, after being closed, and later restricted to takeaway, and many going to the brink of ruin as a result.
Streets were alive on Tuesday with staff and business owners eagerly preparing for their first day opening – and some getting in even earlier.
New York-style steakhouse Angus & Bon – on the famous Chapel St – was one of the first venues to welcome guests inside after midnight.
Two Kmart shoppers donning masks celebrate their early morning purchase after the chain’s Melbourne stores reopened for business
Up to 50 shoppers at a time are allowed outside Kmart under Premier Daniel Andrews’ new restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus
Customers who fail to book during peak periods will be turned away and asked to reserve a spot in a ‘virtual queue’
A shopper shares their highly-priced haul of Kmart goods at one of the chain’s self-service checkouts in Melbourne
Melburnians who have suffered through four months of excruciating lockdown are finally free to drink a pint, chow down on a steak, or see their mums. Pictured are patrons inside The Wolf Windsor on Chapel Street
New York-style steakhouse Angus & Bon – on the famous Chapel St – was one of the first venues to welcome guests inside after midnight
The restaurant was fully booked within minutes of the announcement it would open its doors at 12am people wearing masks lined up around the block.
Excited patrons joined in a rousing countdown as the seconds ticked down, just like New Year’s Eve – only perhaps even more satisfying.
Owner Liam Ganley instructed staff to pop wine corks and confetti guns when the clock stuck midnight, signalling the easing of restrictions.
Source: Daily Mail Australia | World News
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