Westfield Knox — Attraction in Melbourne

The new Valleygirl store on level 2 near Glassons is beyond terrible. The store is too small and everything is just all over the place. The new store has been open for over a month and they still haven’t even bothered to put proper hooks in the change rooms and since the temporary plastic hooks fell down, no one has done anything about it so you don’t have anywhere to hang the clothes that you are trying on.

I thought the temporary store on level 2 in Riot Art & Craft’s old spot was ok being a temporary measure, but this is 1000 times worse then that temporary store and is just so sadly disappointing.

The old big Valleygirl store that was downstairs across from where Ozmosis was for 15 years was my go-to Valleygirl store and it used to be was amazing, had a large open floor space and was busy with customers. That has now been replaced with a cramped and overcrowded shoebox of a store that only has the room inside it to fit 3 makeshift change rooms one of which is now marked “Staff only”, as this is where the mannequins that they no longer have the space to keep out on the shop floor are kept.

Shame on you Westfield Knox for doing this to what was the biggest and best Valleygirl store in Victoria. I’m sorry to say after 16 years of being a loyal customer I have no choice but to shop and bigger and better Valleygirl stores elsewhere.

The new food court is boring with no choices. It’s either KFC and Subway on one end or Asian food which doesn’t cater to everyone on the other side of level one. The old food court that had a good variety of different food options and was open and bright has well and truly disappeared now that it is no longer upstairs on level 2. No wonder McDonald’s decided to not renew their lease back in 2021 after Myer left, they knew of the horror that was coming to Westfield Knox.

It’s clear Westfield Knox didn’t care about what us the ratepayers and consumers of Knox wanted the new Westfield Knox to be, even though we were asked for our input, instead you just went ahead with your own agenda. While the new renovations are nice the choice of shops and what made Westfield Knox a great shopping centre is well and truly dead and gone.

As soon as Myer decided to pack up and leave that was the final nail in the coffin for Westfield Knox. I am sad to say but you have by lost a loyal customer of 46 years as the new Knox is nothing but a dead and nicely renovated shell of what this amazing shopping centre used to be. R.I.P....

Rating a shopping centre in its entirety is so difficult. There's nothing really wrong with Westfield Knox but it doesn't really impress me either. I like the library and enjoy the access outside to restaurants, op shops, and services like headspace. Inside, the grocery stores are grouped in two separate places which is a pain but the optometrists seem to be clumped together.

Sensory-wise... I find most shopping centres overstimulating and this is no exception. The floor shines, the lighting is often bright, it's usually bustling and busy (and sounds eco terribly when it's not), and it's just... Big. This is definitely the place to have all your sensory and regulation tools ready. Headphones, earplugs, sunglasses, jumpers/scarves, etc. But. Something that does make Knox stand out in the calm room.

I'm yet to use it, usually wanting to leave immediately as soon as I'm done and not wanting to stop to regulate even if it might help me. I'll update this review when I do. UPDATE: Tried to go by the calm room today and found an intimidating door with a keypad lock and instructions for requesting assistance. I am an autistic adult with anxiety, not an uncommon combo. I need a space easy to access independently without having to talk to someone, especially if I'm already overwhelmed. Which leaves this space inaccessible for me.

You would be better off going to the library where it will be quiet and maybe using one of the study rooms that are meant to be sound proof. At least you can get an idea of the space without talking to staff and it's immediately quiet and less overstimulating. :UPDATE

I recommend anyone with sensory issues good luck here. There are some dimmer of less crowded corners to take breaks in, but they usually don't have much seating there, the seating gets placed in more high...

Date and time of visit: 11 August 2023

Westfield Knox used to be a great shopping centre with entertainment strip. That was destroyed by the stupid car park with its new exiit system from the paid carpark that lacks thought, lacks intelligence and is going to create bottle necks, especially during peak times. An example on a small scale occured this Friday night - red light, boom gate down, 3 cars ready to leave when the lights turned green but the boom gate operation only allowed one or two more cars through on the green light. IMO Such a stupid set up. Lacks efficiency. I can no longer recommend this shopping centre. They have also taken away one of the better car parks from public access and is only staff car parking. This now means we have to drive firther away from where we want to be when the car park is full, like it was this Friday night. Poor planning. Lacking though. No point in going to this shopping centre any more. It doesnt offer anything different from other lications. It was good, different but no longer.

Before Knox replies suggesting I contact the team to discuss how things can be improved: replan your parking, remove paid parking, the boom gates near the traffic lights are stupid - remove them to make it easier and more efficient to leave, give back the top carpark to public access - it was the best one to park i n;, allow staff to park for free (if they aren't already). I stopped going to Eastlands for their poor parking (it's actually feels dangerous - having nearly been hit by cars while I was walking, and nearly getting hit while driving). I no longer need to go to Knox - there are good restaurants elsewhere, there are cinemas elsewhere, there's...