Discount Retailer Panda Mart's Chaotic Brisbane Launch Draws Crowds and Safety Concerns

Panda Mart, a discount retailer described as a 'real-life Temu,' experienced a frenzied launch in Brisbane's Rocklea suburb on Monday, drawing massive crowds and leaving aisles in disarray. The store, which had a soft opening over the weekend, officially launched on the site of a former Bunnings warehouse.

Shoppers faced significant waits, with reports of queues lasting up to 35 minutes and drivers lining up for hours for parking. Some potential customers, like Francesca Angeles, were deterred by the traffic congestion. "The traffic, guys… we went in and we did a U-ey to come out because it would have been hours before we found a car spot," she stated in a TikTok video. "I was not sitting in the car for like two hours, so I might give it about a week."

Panda Mart, founded in South Africa over a decade ago, now operates 100 stores across New Zealand, South America, and the United States. Its extensive inventory includes homewares, cleaning supplies, gym equipment, and toys, with prices described as low. Much of its stock is sourced from wholesale Chinese markets, contributing to its 'Temu' comparison.

Despite the initial chaos, some shoppers found value. Home stylist Claire O'Connell noted, "There are some really good bargains and the prices were incredible." She added, "There were some things I would definitely go back for, especially storage containers and some really cool glass jars and loads of cleaning supplies as well."

This is not the first time Panda Mart's openings have attracted significant attention. In 2025, the company opened two stores in Victoria, in Cranbourne and Preston, with the latter also located in a former Bunnings. Similar scenes of large crowds and police intervention were observed at these openings. The Cranbourne store reportedly had to close for the day and increased staffing upon reopening the following day.

Panda Mart has faced scrutiny in the past. In March of the previous year, Consumer Affairs Victoria inspectors raided the Cranbourne store following concerns that thousands of products failed mandatory safety and information standards. The watchdog issued a public warning after seizing items such as toys and baby rattles containing button batteries. "We know many Victorians are looking for bargains when they're shopping given the cost of living, but they shouldn't have to worry about picking up dangerous products at the same time, especially ones for babies and kids," stated Nicole Rich, Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, at the time.