Rockdale Plaza has announced extended trading hours for the New Year sales period and confirmed several major retailer changes set to reshape the centre in early 2026.

The announcements come as the centre prepares for what management expects to be a busy post-Christmas period, with bargain hunters seeking deals across fashion, electronics, and homewares.

Extended Trading Hours

The centre will operate extended hours through January:

Period	Hours
Boxing Day (Dec 26)	6am - 9pm
Dec 27-31	9am - 9pm
New Year’s Day (Jan 1)	10am - 6pm
Jan 2-31	9am - 7pm (Mon-Sat), 10am - 6pm (Sun)

Individual retailer hours may vary, with some stores opening earlier on Boxing Day for doorbusters sales.

New Tenants Announced

Centre management has confirmed three major new tenants for 2026:

Uniqlo The Japanese fashion retailer will open its first St George location in February, occupying a 1,200 square metre space on Level 1. The store will feature the full Uniqlo range including the popular Heattech and AIRism lines.

“We’ve had requests for Uniqlo for years,” said centre manager Paula Stevens. “Residents have been travelling to the city or Westfield Bondi Junction. Now they can shop locally.”

JB Hi-Fi An expanded JB Hi-Fi will relocate from its current smaller location to a 2,000 square metre flagship store on Level 2, featuring dedicated gaming, home theatre, and computing sections. The move is scheduled for March.

Aldi Confirming long-standing rumours, Aldi will open on the lower ground level in April, providing a second supermarket option alongside the existing Coles.

Departing Tenants

Not all news is positive. The centre confirmed that Rivers and Strandbags will not renew their leases, with both stores closing by the end of January. Harris Scarfe, which entered administration earlier this year, has already vacated its space.

Stevens acknowledged the closures reflect broader retail challenges: “The retail landscape is changing. Some brands are consolidating their store networks. Our job is to find the right mix of tenants that serve our community.”

Food Court Refresh

A refresh of the food court is also planned for 2026, with three new dining options expected to join the existing tenants:

• A dedicated bubble tea store (brand TBA)
• Mediterranean grill concept
• Expanded seating area with improved accessibility

Existing food court tenants will remain during the refresh, which will be completed in stages to minimise disruption.

Parking Improvements

In response to ongoing customer feedback, the centre is implementing several parking improvements:

• New directional signage throughout the car park
• Repainting of faded line markings
• Additional lighting in darker sections
• Trolley return points on every level

These works will be completed by mid-January, with some temporary disruption to parking during the installation period.

What This Means for Shoppers

The changes position Rockdale Plaza as an increasingly competitive alternative to larger centres for St George residents.

“Not everyone wants to trek to Miranda or Hurstville,” Stevens noted. “We’re building a centre that meets daily needs while offering brands people actually want. The goal is to give our community a reason to shop local.”

Current trading hours and retailer updates are available on the Rockdale Plaza website and social media channels.