Beauty retailer Mecca will be setting up shop in Sydney’s iconic heritage-listed Gowings Building in the second half of this year.
According to Mecca Brands founder Jo Horgan, the space is “the most iconic retail location in Australia,” as told to Glynis Traill-Nash of The Australian.
“It’s the first time in Mecca’s history that we’re taking a site that in and of itself is considered newsworthy. We have our work cut out for us.”
When Mecca opens its door in the Gowings building, it’ll make it the largest beauty store in the southern hemisphere.
The store itself will cover three floors, with the lower level opening into the Queen Victoria Building arcade. There are also plans for private treatment rooms and a makeup beauty lab.
The building is currently occupied by British retailer Topshop and Horgan said that she jumped at the opportunity to lease the iconic space when she heard it might be available.
According to The Australian, other global brands were also interested in the site, so Horgan did everything she could to convince the owners that Mecca was perfect for the space.
“They could see that, one, we were crystal clear on how we could deliver this mecca of beauty in a really large footprint. Two, they saw that we recognised and valued the history of Gowings, the preciousness of the site, the unique story and location put together. And three, they could also see how excited we were to really take the building back its former glory.”
The Mecca team is working closely with the Sydney City Council to bring the store to life, because according to Horgan, “we want everyone to be happy with Gowings, because Gowings belongs to Sydney and Sydneysiders.”
Mecca currently have three locations in the Sydney CBD. Mecca Maxima is located in the QVB, Mecca Cosmetica in The Strand Arcade and the Mecca cosmetic counter in Myer.