Central Market transformation hits opening delay
InDaily reveals the “unforeseen circumstances” delaying the grand opening of the $600 million expanded Adelaide Central Market.
The City of Adelaide has announced that “unforeseen delays beyond the council’s control” have pushed back the opening of the Adelaide Central Market opening to “before Easter 2027”.
Today, Maras brushed off concerns about a delay saying “the existing Central Market will continue to trade as always, and it has traded all this time during the course of construction”.
“There’s been not one day of any hiccup,” he said.
He said the builder – ICD – has not handed over the property to the council, which means shop fit-outs could not yet commence.
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“Doesn’t matter who you are – you can’t do a shop fit-out unless you’ve got control of the site,” he said, but would not be drawn on whether this disrupted plans for tenants moving into the site.
“No one has broken any rules, and no one has broken any promises because the project went very well.”
Construction on the $600 million Adelaide Central Market expansion started in 2022, and one of the key elements – The Treehouse Hotel – recently announced it was on the hunt for a buyer.
Most of the new vendors heading into the new Central Market expansion are food operators, including Never Never Distilling Co, Hummus Hustle, Burrata Project and Rohde Egg Co. Maras also previously teased a “well-known South Australian bookshop” would join the retail area, but food was “what the market does best”.
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“There won’t be there won’t be any fashion or buckles or buttons or bangles or spangles. It’ll be the world’s number three market continuing to do what it does best, and what it does best is sell food, and we’ll be the biggest market in the southern hemisphere,” Maras said in September.
City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said the expansion will “open in stages from early December and be fully open in time for the busy Easter trading period”.
“The expansion will double the size of the market and introduce a vibrant mix of new food, drink and specialty retail experiences.”
Lomax-Smith thanked traders for their patience.
“This project represents a transformational investment in the future of our city,” she said.
“We can’t wait to welcome the community to the expanded Adelaide Central Market in the coming months.”
ICD CEO Matt Khoo today said The Treehouse project that included the hotel that was for sale and also residential apartments was “nearing completion”.
“With almost all apartments sold and new residents soon moving in, the precinct is steadily coming to life as we move towards completion in the coming months.”
The Market Square development is expected to contribute $135 million to the South Australian economy, according to JLL.
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