JR/Duty Free’s new Departure store at Brisbane Airport is now fully operational, after a partial opening on 1 September, and several new retailers have opened their doors.

 

With just six months until the $45m project is fully completed in mid-2015, the opening of these new stores and the reveal of a major new artwork by local artist Sebastian Moody is ‘a milestone’ says the Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC).

 

Julieanne Alroe, BAC CEO and Managing Director said: “When we started this project we had a very clear idea of what we wanted to achieve. It was all about creating an environment that encapsulated the personality of Brisbane and Queensland and was memorable, engaging, intriguing and a place people wanted to return to.

 

“While we’re not finished yet, what we’ve achieved to date is certainly creating a distinct sense of place with the clever use of local Tuff stone, spotted gum timber, plants, green spaces and local artwork, which will differentiate Brisbane Airport from any other airport in the world.”

 

As previously reported, JR/Duty Free has opened two brand new walk through stores that are designed to be ‘quintessentially Queensland’. Local ‘hero’ products include: Bundaberg Black Barrel 10 year old rum bottled exclusively for JR/Duty Free; Brisbane-bottled Beenleigh Rum liqueur, Port Barrel Infused Rum and Finest Single Barrel Rum; specialty confectionery from the Noosa Chocolate Factory and Nutworks; and 10m year-old Boulder Opals from Toscow and Opals Australia.

 

Left to right: Milton Lasnitzki CEO JR Group, Toby Innes BAC, Julieanne Alroe BAC CEO and MD, Evelyn Danos Chair JR Group, Andrew Brodie GM Airline and Retail Management BAC.

Australian Jewellers Mazzuccelli’s will make a world-first duty free appearance in the JR/Duty Free stores at Brisbane Airport, with travellers also able to purchase Philosophy skincare and cosmetics.

 

The JR/Watch Co. Luxury Watch Boutique will offer some of the world’s most prestigious brands – IWC, Omega, Chopard, Girard-Perregaux and Hublot; JR/Watch Co. will be the only store in Queensland to stock the Hublot brand.

 

Other stores include the Merino Collection, Billabong, Boost Juice (Level 3), The Botanist (Level 4), Corretto Bar & Café (Level 4) and Optus (Level 2).

 

Andrew Brodie, BAC General Manager Airline and Retail Management, said: “To achieve our goal it was very important that our retailers shared our vision of leveraging the best of Brisbane and Queensland culture, products and services, as well as making the terminal engaging, vibrant and inviting.

 

“All have enthusiastically embraced these guiding principles and integrating Queensland sourced materials, products, art, food and beverages wherever possible into their stores.

 

“It’s an exciting journey of discovery finding the best things that truly represent our city and state that will give travellers fond memories of their visit that make them want to come back again and again.”