Retail Growth on the Gold Coast Creates New Chances for Businesses and Shoppers

Kaufland and Costco have confirmed they are actively searching for new sites to expand their presence on the Gold Coast, underlining increasing corporate interest in the region’s retail market.^[1] This development accompanies multi-million-dollar projects led by local developers and ongoing shifts in retail geography, demonstrating a broader opportunity emerging for retailers and consumers alike.

Major Developments and Changing Retail Geography

Developers Sunland Group are currently constructing a $100 million retail precinct known as 'The Lanes' in Mermaid Waters. This project will feature 17,135m² of commercial space devoted to cafes, restaurants, and showroom-style retail outlets,^[2] signalling a significant investment in the southern suburbs.

Meanwhile, the northern region around Coomera is undergoing transformation with a $1 billion investment in the Coomera Town Centre development. This includes a forthcoming Westfield shopping complex and is set to become the Gold Coast's largest shopping precinct.^[3] These projects highlight how infrastructure and commercial development are fueling retail expansion at both ends of the city.

Retailers are increasingly migrating towards southern suburbs such as Palm Beach and Mermaid Beach. These areas offer lower rental costs and reduced vacancy rates relative to traditional commercial hubs, attracting brands and businesses targeting cost efficiencies and lifestyle-focused customer bases.^[4]

Lifestyle Destinations and Retail Evolution

Suburban neighbourhood retail precincts are evolving from typical essential service locations into vibrant lifestyle destinations that merge everyday shopping with dining and boutique retail experiences. This shift is driven by rezoning initiatives that allow for higher-density development and targeted infrastructure investments.^[5] Instead of simply serving as transactional hubs, these precincts cultivate community engagement and draw diverse consumer activity throughout the day.

The combination of these factors is contributing to a dynamic retail environment where both large-scale developments and boutique neighbourhood precincts benefit. Retailers capitalise on new foot traffic patterns, while shoppers enjoy greater variety and convenience.

This trend is supported by broader workforce growth projections: the Gold Coast region anticipates an employment increase with over 348,000 workers by 2025-26 and a 6.2% workforce rise by 2027-28, adding approximately 22,000 new jobs. Priorities in health care, construction, retail, accommodation, food services, and education sectors drive this expansion, encouraging further demand for retail and commercial spaces.^[2]

Lower rental pressures and vacancy rates in the southern suburbs reduce barriers for smaller retailers, while the Coomera Town Centre is poised to become a retail powerhouse that attracts a significant share of the city’s consumer spending. Meanwhile, established developers like Sunland Group are leveraging these market conditions to create appealing mixed-use precincts.

The cumulative effect of major projects and emerging precincts is a more diverse and accessible retail landscape across the Gold Coast, from the northern corridors to the southern beachside communities.

Retailers and property developers looking to benefit from these shifts should closely monitor zoning changes and infrastructure investments, as these will continue shaping where shoppers gather and spend. Meanwhile, local council planning departments are likely to publish updates on rezoning applications and development approvals which can provide early signals for emerging hotspots.

Consumers can expect an expanded range of retail and lifestyle options within accessible, community-focused precincts that reflect changing shoppers’ preferences for convenience combined with experience-based destinations.