Markets 
The Queensland launch of discounted retail chain Panda Mart sparked a frenzy of shoppers, with thousands descending on the store in Brisbane’s south.
The chain, described as “Temu in real life”, stocks everything from cosmetics and toys to homewares, furniture, sporting goods, outdoor gear and more.
Panda Mart in Rocklea has 18 checkout counters, all of which had a line on Monday afternoon.
A staff member, not authorised to speak publicly and who asked not to be named, said he served at least 1000 customers at his counter alone over the weekend.
“18 counters and 1000 people through each,” he said.
“More than 1000 I reckon, I’m not sure though. It’s just a lot of people. On Saturday, Sunday it’s more. People coming in every two minutes.
“Every time you look over there, it’s just people, it never settles down.”
The worker estimated there were 60 to 70 per cent more people on Saturday and Sunday than on Monday.
Just after midday on Monday, limited parking had forced customers to drive off-road and on the sidewalk before piling into the store located at the old Bunnings site. Cars were parked in every available space on the lawns – up on the curbs, and on every side street for at least three blocks.
By 2pm, a line had formed at the door with entry staggered by staff to a few at a time.
Shelves were bare for some items, with the most popular products being snacks, makeup, and furniture.
Shoppers who visited the store over the weekend shared footage online of messy aisles, particularly in the rug section of the store.
Rugs were strewn across the floor in piles, blocking the aisles so no one could walk through.
Panda Mart first launched in South Africa in 2010, and launched in Victoria last year. Crowds were so large at the Cranbourne store opening in Melbourne’s outskirts that police had to be called.
Police were not required at the Rocklea store during its soft opening weekend.
The chain’s Victorian stores were ordered to stop trading for 72 hours by Consumer Affairs Victoria last December, while allegedly unsafe goods were seized.
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