By Aimee Chanthadavong

Melbourne’s Epping Plaza will rebrand to Pacific Epping in October to mark the launch of its $30 million Urban Diner development.

Following a 12-month project led by architectural and interior design group, McGauran Giannini Soon, Pacific Epping will show off a new retail look.

According to Pacific Epping CEO Graham Terry, with ever growing competition and the increase of young families moving into new surrounding housing developments, an upgrade was an obvious step.

“The business identified the need to update the branding and reposition the Centre as a hub to satisfy the local's need for retail, fresh food plus family friendly dining and entertainment,” he said.

“The Urban Diner in particular was established to offer the north a restaurant precinct that not only is on the design front foot but houses leading restaurants and entertainment facilities.”

The launch of the Urban Diner will expand the centre’s footprint by 9,288 square metres, increasing the gross leasable area (GLA) to 74,036 square metres.

The Urban Diner precinct will see the return of La Familgia and Laurie Dees to complement existing restaurants, T.G.I Friday’s and Epping Plaza Hotel plus the recent opening of two new Gold Lounges at Reading Cinemas.

Pacific Epping will also see improvements to flooring, lighting, entrances to coincide with the Urban Diner development. The development has also introduced a new bus interchange off Cooper Street and an additional 300 car parking spaces.