Another global retailer sets sights on Rundle Mall
Shrugging off the doldrums of weak economic conditions, the boss of the city’s premier shopping strip shares the next major steps in keeping the Rundle Mall rolling in its 50th year.
It might have new pavers, a few more statues of friendly fauna, no escalator and a couple of the biggest retailers in the world, but Rundle Mall is still achieving everything former South Australian Premier Don Dunstan wanted it to 50 years after the street was transformed into a pedestrian-friendly mall.
That’s according to Rundle Mall executive manager Andrew White, who spoke to InDaily ahead of this week’s 50th anniversary celebrations that are set to include a parade, free carousel rides, a prosecco piazza and a big birthday bash.
And the there was also another announcement in the wings with White hinting at another “major international retailer” preparing to call Rundle Mall home “before Christmas” – though he was tight-lipped on its identity.
“When international brands come to SA, they come to the Mall first,” he said.
Also in the works is a planned “makeover” of James Place, a new “world-class sound system” that will pump tunes and soundscapes throughout the Mall and “there’s always new traders opening and businesses opening”.
“We get 52 million visits every single year, and we have over 1000 traders making us one of the largest malls in the Southern Hemisphere,” he said.
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“It is an economic powerhouse. Roughly 57 per cent of all spending in the city and North Adelaide occurs in Rundle Mall, so it’s economically vital to Adelaide.
“We’re turning over roughly $1.5 billion every single year.”
Black Friday was now the Mall’s busiest day, having overtaken Boxing Day, White saying the Mall was “gearing up for another big one”.
“Even with everything going on, we’re still seeing those numbers continue to surprise us,” he said.
“I think we’re in for another big year. People are still coming out to spend, and I think that’s a testament to what Rundle Mall means to South Australians. It’s a place where people come to shop, eat and hang out.”
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There was controversy in 1976 after Don Dunstan closed the strip to cars, the Premier facing opposition to the plan, especially from car lovers and retailers on the street.
“It was a long time ago that people started to urge that we have a place in the city really for people and not for motorcars, where in fact the life of the city could find a heart,” Dunstan said to a 10,000-strong crowd at the Mall’s opening, flanked by the Mall fountain spewing Champagne instead of water.
“It wasn’t just going to be a shopping place, but where people could come and stroll, meet one another, enjoy an open-air activity, and at the same time, of course, go and purchase what they wanted to.”
Very little has changed in that regard, according to White: “It’s a human-centred space”.
“I think we’ve all said ‘Let’s meet at the Mall’s Balls’. It is definitely a place of human connection and a social space.”
And White was not concerned about shop vacancies, saying the strip was at three per cent these days: “That’s very low in terms of how that’s comparing to other CBD malls across Australia,” he said.
“We really are the town square of Adelaide, so I’m going to treat it that way.
“It’s more than shopping; it’s about all those experiences.”
Celebrations in the Mall kick off tomorrow (Tuesday, September 1) with a birthday cake and performances.
“I encourage everyone to come in and be a part of it,” said White.
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