A BIG DAY FOR GLAMOUR
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday April 1, 2011
YOU may have heard that Myer has splashed out $300 million for a swish new Melbourne store and after spending $1 million on a party consider it a $301 million store. Last night, a black carpet spanned the famous windows for the store's 100th birthday party. Referring to the nine-level shop that was four years in the re-making, Myer chief Bernie Brookes said: "You have to create theatre and atmosphere to make shopping enjoyable and a great day out." There was an abundance of that last night, including 500 guests in black-tie finery, Bert Newton as MC, a birthday cake, 2500 flutes of champagne, singer Guy Sebastian and showgirls of a certain age Rhonda Burchmore, Patti Newton, Denise Drysdale, Colette Mann and Val Jellay. Ben Lewis, the "new Phantom" in Love Never Dies, sang the Nat King Cole song L-O-V-E, which was changed to M-Y-E-R. The store's "face", Jennifer Hawkins, later emerged from a giant shopping bag with model Jessica Hart. The theatrics continued as guests gazed at the atrium and enjoyed performances on each level. Brookes said "several million dollars" were spent sprucing up the space that Heritage Victoria describes as "one of the finest art deco interiors in the state".
© 2011 Sydney Morning Herald
