This was clear to see on Sunday when the Myer Wollongong store closed its doors for good.

Even before the roller doors came crashing down at 5pm, signaling the demise of the major department store’s 30-year reign in Wollongong, GPT was pushing the barrow of Myer’s replacement.

GPT indicated it will soon begin to redevelop the three-level centre to house a new ‘’world’class’’ David Jones store.

Robert Docherty of East Corrimal was part of a steady stream of shoppers looking for some bargains in the near empty Myer on October 2.

“I wanted to see how the place looks like empty,’’ he said.

“I’m not particularly sad as I think Wollongong can only afford one major store nowadays. With a Myer store in Shellharbour this makes sense.

“I think Wollongong has got too greedy. People can go to Shellharbour and not worry about parking. You can even go to Miranda and get free parking for three hours.’’

Mr Docherty believes Wollongong Central missed a golden opportunity by not following the free parking lead of Shellharbour.

“Coles has arrived in Wollongong but the decision not to offer free parking has taken the appeal away from Wollongong as a preferred shopping centre destination,’’ he said.

“And with the parking meters outside, there is no escape for shoppers.’’

Kerry Rodman of Tarrawanna, who has shopped at Myer since it opened, said “Wollongong is not going to be the same without it’’. 

Other shoppers Fairfax Media spoke to expressed their sadness at the closure of Myer, which started its life as Grace Bros in Wollongong 30 years ago.

But for Wollongong Central, Sunday marked an “exciting evolution’’ in the first steps to redesign the Gateway arm of the shopping precinct.

“Over the next months there will be some disruptions to the current status quo, some changes to the retail line-up and parts of the Gateway building will be inaccessible to customers as we prepare the centre to receive the new David Jones store,’’ Wollongong Central regional general manager Antony Keenan said.