Melburnians are currently celebrating the end of one of the world’s strictest and longest lockdowns.
Many will mark the occasion with a visit to their favourite cafe or a catchup with friends and family.
But for hundreds of Melburnians, the best way to celebrate their newfound freedom was with a visit to their favourite budget homeware store.
With Melbourne’s lockdown laws lifting at midnight last night, Kmart was one of the only venues in the city that was ready to reopen in time.
Video has since emerged of huge lines of people waiting outside Kmart stories in the minutes before the clock ticked over.
One shopper told 7News they had been waiting outside the shop from 6pm.
https://twitter.com/tomnookid/status/1321169039155023872
The woman in the middle: Is she laughing with joy or weeping with joy? The punter in the Jurassic World jumper. The desperate dash for a trolley on the left. The security guard ready to go HAM at any moment. Scholars will study this image for centuries. #Kmart pic.twitter.com/3u22MiilsS
— James Law (@JournoLawJ) October 27, 2020
The large crowds are obviously not a good look given the strict lockdown measures that have been in place recently.
To ease concerns, the retailer has introduced an online booking system, so shoppers can visit stores knowing they can avoid large crowds.
Shoppers must nominate their preferred store, how many people will be visiting and a preferred time from the available times.
“We will open our doors on Wednesday 28th October, but for your safety, we will limit the number of customers allowed in a store at one time for stores located in Metro Melbourne,” Kmart says on its website.
“Our Social Q app is here to save you time and get you into store as quickly as possible during busy periods – either use the app before you leave home to save your spot in store, or if there’s a line when you get to store, use the app to save your spot without lining up.”
And the spots are quickly filling up.
A visit to the website shows the Moonee Ponds store is currently entirely booked out for visits this morning.
