City retailing is firmly in the spotlight with international brands competing head on with the local players as they jostle for space.
The competition is set to intensify thanks to the redevelopments across Sydney, from the change in George Street into a pedestrian zone, the upgrade of Martin Place to a "piazza" style thoroughfare to numerous planned residential projects.
In some cases, shop fronts will disappear, while others will be opened, causing no end of ructions for the retailers. 
Another big change, for tenants and shoppers, will be the sale of the David Jones menswear stores in Sydney and Melbourne.
With Woolworths South Africa acquiring David Jones for $2.1 billion in 2014 and appointing former Westpac CEO Gail Kelly to the Board, David Jones have announced plans to consolidate to a single store in Melbourne and Sydney.
The menswear stores in both Sydney and Melbourne are being offered for sale with an estimated combined sale price of nearing $400 million. The Sydney store is expected to be consolidated to the Elizabeth Street store and at 310 Bourke Street in Melbourne.
In Sydney, there is a possibility to develop the airspace, which could see a range of retailers looking at the ground floor, including smaller supermarkets.
Coles, Woolworths, Metcash and even Aldi are all looking at the sites under the planned residential towers in the city for convenience-style stores.
According to leasing agents the upward momentum in the retail market will underpin a tranche of new store openings across the east coast, with Australian retailers looking to the country's fashion meccas to expand their national footprint. 
CBRE head of retail brokerage leasing Australia, Leif Olson, said improved consumer sentiment levels were underpinning the growth, with Australian brands aggressively seeking space in Sydney and Melbourne's fashion hot spots. 
High end menswear label MJ Bale is the latest Australian retailer to roll out new stores across the country, including its flagship Sydney store in Martin Place, which is set to open its doors this month. "MJ Bale's new store opening highlights continued momentum in the retail market and the confidence this is providing Australian retailers to capitalise on the recent business upturn," Mr Olson said.
"It is great to see Australian retailers such as MJ Bale expand into core, sought after locations, opening doors next to some of the world's most well-known international brands."
Located in Martin Place, which is becoming a premier fashion hub with names such as Rimowa???, Kit & Ace and Collection of Style, the 120 square metres, MJ Bale's Sydney flagship, at 14 Martin Place, features a new fit out and design, while maintaining the heritage feel of the iconic sandstone building.
The latest MJ Bale store opening comes after the retailer recently expanded its footprint in Melbourne through CBRE, opening a 120 sqm outlet at 500 Collins Street and will open 131 sqm store at St Collins Lane in 2016.
Melbourne CBRE leasing agent, Zelman Ainsworth said the two deals were evidence of Australia's increasing appeal as a premier retail destination.
"Over the past 18 months, a flood of new entrants have secured a presence in the Melbourne CBD, which is evidence of its growing appeal at a local and international level," Mr Ainsworth said.
At St Collins Lane, MJ Bale will neighbour a number of high end international brands, including Coach, Tag, Furla, Sandro, Maje and Reiss in deals brokered by CBRE. 
Mr Olson said MJ Bale's expansion was evidence of a strengthening presence from Australian brands in the retail market.
"Australian brands are emerging a strong player in the retail market, with a number of home grown brands such aggressively expanding, not only across Australia but branching into international markets," Mr Olson said.