News & Discussion: CBD Retail

[crawf]

Both developments sound very promising, I remember someone on here saying there was a major development on the cards for the southern side of Rundle Mall, excluding Rundle Place.

Just prey to god that Renaissance Arcade is blown up to pieces... such a ugly horrible thing it is. Even it's main tenant Toys R Us is one giant rabbit warren

[Tyler_Durden]

On a brighter note I have posted previously that there is a much bigger brand looking at space in the redeveloped Harris Scarfe site. They are still in negotiations and yet to commit but plans are all drawn up with them in it. I will keep you posted.

I guess Apple.

There's a cool looking bike shop that's opened up on Ebeneezer Place - Treadly Bike Shop. Looks like they specialize in town bikes / commuter bikes, I must go have a closer look.

Another cool shop recently opened on Ebenezer is Old Midwest. It's owned by the people who own and run Midwest Trader but specialises in American vintage. It's very, very cool. Even if you don't intend on buying anything it is worth a look just to admire the shop fitout.

[Mants]

Both developments sound very promising, I remember someone on here saying there was a major development on the cards for the southern side of Rundle Mall, excluding Rundle Place.

Just prey to god that Renaissance Arcade is blown up to pieces... such a ugly horrible thing it is. Even it's main tenant Toys R Us is one giant rabbit warren

Renaissance Arcade and Renaissance Centre are completely different buildings...the Renaissance Arcade runs underneath the Hotel Richmond, whilst the Renaissance Centre houses Toys 'R' Us.

[crawf]

I meant Renaissance Centre

Though the Renaissance Arcade isn't much better either.

[Mants]

I meant Renaissance Centre

Though the Renaissance Arcade isn't much better either.

The Renaissance Arcade is such a great location, with a bit of work, it could be extremely popular, especially given its closeness to UniSA, AU and USC

[stumpjumper]

I had a look around Ebenezer Place yesterday. It certainly looks very healthy (although Theo Maras, the landlord, may have some of them on sweet deals early in their tenancies). Let's hope that the area prospers. A busy, viable collection of small businesses is just as good for a precinct's future as a shiny new large business. Precedents are Dean's Yard in London and Melbourne's famous lanes.

I've noticed that Treadly's website is a bit of a mess. As a previous manager of the East End Coordination Group, I humbly suggest that ACC put a few assets towards mentoring that side of small businesses in the East End. Some assistance with on-line development for those businesses would help establish a unique identity for the traders and the area. Even minor details such as an 'East End' wrapping paper for purchases would be good. Some more casual seating in the East End wouldn't go astray either. Comfortable casual seating encourages people to linger and to meet in a locality.

As to larger scale retail developments, developers should be wary of one of Adelaide's quirks: we will go upstairs to shop, but generally only within a single department store. Adelaide Arcade discovered this local characteristic decades ago, and the Myer Centre relearned the lesson more recently.

[Will]

I had a look around Ebenezer Place yesterday. It certainly looks very healthy (although Theo Maras, the landlord, may have some of them on sweet deals early in their tenancies). Let's hope that the area prospers. A busy, viable collection of small businesses is just as good for a precinct's future as a shiny new large business. Precedents are Dean's Yard in London and Melbourne's famous lanes.

I've noticed that Treadly's website is a bit of a mess. As a previous manager of the East End Coordination Group, I humbly suggest that ACC put a few assets towards mentoring that side of small businesses in the East End. Some assistance with on-line development for those businesses would help establish a unique identity for the traders and the area. Even minor details such as an 'East End' wrapping paper for purchases would be good. Some more casual seating in the East End wouldn't go astray either. Comfortable casual seating encourages people to linger and to meet in a locality.

As to larger scale retail developments, developers should be wary of one of Adelaide's quirks: we will go upstairs to shop, but generally only within a single department store. Adelaide Arcade discovered this local characteristic decades ago, and the Myer Centre relearned the lesson more recently.

Indeed, I am also a fan of Ebeneezer Place, and would dearly love the ACC to promote it better, because at the moment I have talked to people who know more about the laneways in Melbourne than our own Ebenezer Place.

I would suggest the ACC make Union Street more pedestrian friendly so as to encourage more people to actually diverge from Rundle Street and therefore discover Ebenezer Place. At the moment, Union Street looks uninviting and gives the impression of being just a side street that leads to a carpark.

[stumpjumper]

It's a pity about the entrance to the Rundle carpark in Union Street.

If that weren't there, I think there'd be a possibility that Union Street could be either closed or at least made into a dual zone with pedestrian preference (cobblestones, swales and bollards instead of kerbs, funky lighting etc. Car drivers soon get the feeling that they're second class citizens in such places and stay out, except for deliveries). After all, other than to provide access to the carpark, Union Street doesn't actually go anywhere. It's a short cut for drivers heading west on Rundle St who want to double back via Grenfell St, but there is always the option of turning left at Frome Road and left again at Grenfell. The 'double back before the lights' facility is no longer available at Gawler Place between North Tce and Rundle Mall (formerly Rundle Street) or James Place between the former Rundle Street and Grenfell St.

What about having a good look at the carpark. Are two entrances (Frome and Union) actually necessary? The Union Street entrance must take up a few valuable parking slots, and perhaps the carpark would be better served if Union St were a thriving mall (more demand for parks = higher fees etc).

What's more, if Union St were a mall, the skinny remnant market building wall on the western side of the street alongside the carpark could be developed and 'inhabited'. There's at least 4m, I think, between the carpark and the remnant wall - as wide as Sym Choon and its neighbours in Rundle St. Daniel's on the corner of Frome St is no wider either. Imagine a glass box built with the wall as a facade. Skinny two storey tenancies - ideal for the East End style of tenant.

You;'d have to retasin access for the rear of the Crown and Anchor, but other than that, (and the present carpark entrance) there is little need for the street to carry traffic all day. The entrance to the Union St apartments' car park is on Grenfell Street. Ebenezer Place doesn't go anywhere either. I know there is a basement big enough for parking under the Nova (it was designed that way) with access via a 'blanking panel' on the east side of the little courtyard on the corner of Ebenezer and Union, but I think Theo Maras could live without opening that. In any case, Union Street could conceivably, though not ideally, be 'malled' south of that entrance of it were opened.

Imagine the East End with Ebenezer Place and Union St being pedestrian precincts, even if only 9am to say 3am (the East End Licencing Agreement cuts in after that and rubbish removal and deliveries start around 4am). The Crown and Anchor tables could spill out across the road, maybe there'd be shops and street cafes in the remnant wall and the little barn behind the pub... people everywhere! It might be worth talking to ACC and Ezi-Park or whoever it is - to see if there's anything in the way.

[AtD]

Perhaps in the near term, a barricade could simply be put in one end of Union St to stop through traffic. From there it can slowly evolve into a mall itself. Think Chesser St.

Also: What is this pink thing? http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-34.922852,1 ... d=20101020

[stumpjumper]

Good idea. Maybe it could be barricaded from the carpark entrance north, or perhaps the carpark could try operating on a Sunday or whatever with just the Frome Street entrance open.

[Nathan]

Also: What is this pink thing? http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-34.922852,1 ... d=20101020

It's an art piece by Craige Andrae, as part of The New New exhibition run by CACSA
http://www.cacsa.org.au/cvapsa/2010/9_N ... ndrae.html

[AtD]

Thanks for that.

It could be worth investigating converting just the northern end of Union St into a mall, between Rundle St and Ebenezer Place. As far as I can tell, this will not close off any service accesses.

[stumpjumper]

Here are some possibilities:



The Google picture shows Rundle Street with it's blue and white market tents. The area marked in orange is the area of Union Street not needed for access (note carpark entrance). The green line shows the area of Ebenezer Place that could contain a street activity, flowing onto the plaza south of the Belgian Beer Cafe (which is incorrectly located on the Google photo). The northern section of Ebenezer Place is too narrow.

The Rundle Street market has not been an unqualified success, and not all Rundle Street traders support it. It could be that Union Street, or Ebenezer Place, or both, would be a better venue for an occasional market.

[bm7500]

Rundle Mall's newest store is now open. Telechoice has opened in the Rundle Mall end of Adelaide Arcade.

Adelaide Arcade is also celebrating its 125th Birthday next Monday, details are hush hush as to the evenings festivities but you can register on their website if you wish to attend. http://www.adelaidearcade.com.au/adelai ... rthday.php

[jk1237]

Nike store has opened. Its 3 levels too, wasn't aware of it until I had a look. Quite a few curious people inside