The theory is that the Melbourne CBD is booming. Retail activity is through the roof, not just on weekdays but also evenings and weekends. Certainly from my point of view as a CBD worker-bee and occasional weekend visitor, it seems like much of the CBD is bustling for most of the time, no doubt helped by developments at Melbourne Central (yah boo hiss), QV, Fed Square and elsewhere.

It’s not necessarily the big stores pulling in the people, but an explosion in the number of small, specialist shops, as well as restaurants and bars that help keep the masses around after dark.

But it’s not all success stories. The Bunnings in Bourke Street is closing down. Now, I’m sure hardware isn’t a huge business in the CBD, it’s probably mostly a weekend thing. But damn it’s handy to have somewhere like this close to work. Maybe some people don’t think of it, but I’ve certainly wandered in there at lunchtime to get a key cut, or pick some other semi-obscure hardware thing — last time it was fluorescent tubes. Mind you I got the wrong type the first time I tried.

My spies tell me they’re being kicked out and are looking for another city site, so hopefully they find something soon. Otherwise, where else will I be able to go to buy the wrong stuff at lunchtime?