K-Hub Not Reopening

Cowra residents are being urged to support local businesses and shop locally, after K-Mart officially announced today that Cowra’s new K-Hub store will not be reopening.

It comes after months of uncertainty, after the former Target store closed in August to transition to a K-Hub store - part of a state wide program Wesfarmers, the parent company of both Target and K-Mart, undertook to transition most regional Target stores into K-Hub stores.

K-Mart had already announced that it was dealing with structural issues with the building it was leasing, which were discovered during the transition process, and that this had delayed its initial reopening planned for September.

A K-Mart spokesperson said the full assessment of the site had now been finalised, and it had been determined the building was not suitable to open K-Hub in.

“We are extremely disappointed to confirm that the K hub in Cowra will no longer open as planned,” the spokesperson said.

“A building assessment unfortunately determined the Kmart construction we intended to do at the site would not be possible.”

“We want to thank the Cowra community and Cowra Council for all their support over the years whilst the store was a Target and more recently as we prepared to open a K hub.”

“This is very difficult news as we were so looking forward to opening our doors in Cowra and hope that one day in the future we will.”

K-Mart also stated that it was not looking at any other premises in Cowra at this time, noting that this was not part of their model of transitioning Target stores in K-Hub stores.

The spokesperson said that over the coming years, if the K-Hub model was successful and additional stores, not in existing Target stores, opened, K-Mart would consider Cowra as a potential location and catchment for a future K hub.

The spokesperson also confirmed that staff at the former store would be supported.

“Our focus is on supporting our Cowra team through this time as we work through finding suitable redeployment within other Wesfarmers businesses as well as with other employers in town. Any permanent team members who we are unable to secure suitable redeployment will have access to all their entitlements,” they said.

Cowra Mayor Bill West said today’s announcement was extremely disappointing, and that Cowra Council would work with the Cowra Business Chamber to work on filling the gap left by K-Hub’s departure.

“It’s very disappointing. This will impact the community. I’m very disappointed for their staff as well,” he said.

“Council will continue to work with the Business Chamber and the landlord of the former Target building to work on getting a new tenant.”

“Council and the Business Chamber need to be at the forefront of this.”

Mr West said Council could only “encourage and nurture” private enterprise, and it was ultimately up to K-Mart and private enterprise themselves to make their own business decisions.

“It’s disappointing that these decisions were made without consulting the community. We will keep having conversations with K-Mart, the landlord and any other interested parties as we move forward, which we also need to do despite the disappointment,” he said.

The Cowra Business Chamber said it was encouraging all locals to shop local and support local retailers, especially in the lead up to Christmas.

It is currently running its Christmas Shop campaign which has 44 local businesses participating.

Shoppers who spend at least $20 at these businesses will receive a QR code entry to a draw, with prizes to be drawn and won on Friday December 3, Friday December 10 and Monday December 20.

Some participating businesses are also participating in Thursday late night shopping on Thursday December 9 and Thursday December 16.

More information will be published in next Wednesday’s The Cowra Phoenix.