Bondi Junction attack: Westfield centre reopens doors to shoppers nearly a week after stabbing massacre

Westfield Bondi Junction is open for business, but it is hardly business as usual at the typically bustling shopping centre.

The centre opened its doors for retail on Friday, almost a week after Joel Cauchi’s murderous rampage through the complex.

He killed six people and injured 12 more, including a nine-month-old baby, before he was shot dead by NSW Police officer Amy Scott.

Black ribbons were displayed on screens throughout the building, a tribute to the victims, as Westfield opened its doors to customers.

“It’s certainly not business as usual,” Wendy Nixon, a cosmetic nurse who works in the shopping centre, said.

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She is returning to work for the first time since the attack, having worked the day before the incident unfolded.

“It’s so quiet, so eerie in there. It’s so sad, and it’s usually such a hub, such a thriving place.”

Ms Nixon has been left devastated, much like others who have laid tributes at the shopping centre, by the “senseless” violence.

“I feel apprehensive to be back, it’s certainly changed the way we’re going to be living,” she said.

But a silver lining: “ What I took from it is that as a society we help each other, which I suppose if you can find any good in it, it’s that.”

While most stores opened on Friday, a number remained closed, including Country Road which posted a message at the store entrance advising customers it would reopen on April 22, “to allow team members time to recover”.

“Our hearts go out to the Bondi Junction community who are still healing,” the statement read.

“Out of respect, we will avoid conversations about recent events in our store and instead focus on welcoming our team members and customers back.”

“Thank you to our wonderful customers, team members and the Bondi Junction community for your incredible support.”

Local mum of two Lauren Gear stopped by to pay her respects with her daughters on Friday.

Having grown-up in the area, she said she was “devastated” when news of the attack broke, and her first thought was “do I know anyone inside?”

Westfield Bondi Junction is where she usually shops at least once a week with her youngest, and it still feels unreal that it was a place of violence.

“I wasn’t actually going to come in today, I definitely didn’t think I would be back for a while but when I saw the (flower) tribute outside, I felt I had to pay our respects.”

She said it feels safe inside, with the number of people and added security around.

“But I don’t know how long that’s going to last once the security and the attention goes away.”

Visitors of all ages are queueing quietly to leave flowers and write in condolence books available at the memorial site.

They are also being offered black ribbons to pin to their clothes as a way to remember those who lost their lives on Saturday.

Local Bradley Cam described the atmosphere inside the mall as “on edge”.

“This is my local (shopping centre), it’s not the same inside as it was,” he said.

“It doesn’t feel unsafe but I definitely think everyone feels a bit on edge being back here. It’s definitely not normal.”

David Snowden, who also considers it his family’s local shopping centre, said it was “much quieter than usual”.

Outside at the memorial, where tributes are spilling out of a white marquee the waft of flowers fills the air.

Mental health officers, and a few companion animals also walked through the mall. Support staff from the Salvation Army and local medical teams were also seen quietly talking to visitors.

One of the workers wearing a hi-vis “MENTAL HEALTH” spoke to The Nightly and said he had experienced the full range of emotions from people who visited the site.

“Some really want to talk about how they’re feeling, and others want to sort of stand and reflect,” he said.

“Some people have even been checking in on us, actually, it’s beautiful to see how everyone has come together.”