Red Square nightclub joins list of Adelaide bars, eateries and pubs closing or up for sale
Adelaide’s after-dark scene has been dealt another brutal blow this week as a number of once-popular venues close their doors or sell up. See the full list of what we’ve lost here.
Lifestyle
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Adelaide is under threat of becoming a ghost town for night-life.
The city’s party scene has suffered yet another brutal blow this week with the shock closure of Hindley St hotspot Red Square.
The premier party strip has been gutted in recent months, with a sprinkling of bars and clubs forced to close their doors or sell up for myriad reasons.
The pandemic took its toll for some, but with restrictions long lifted, others are feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis as locals tighten their purse strings and opt to stay in.
Over summer ‘23/24, we said goodbye to some iconic venues, and the list is continuing to grow.
Red Square
The operators of Red Square on Hindley St this week announced the club is closing on March 9 with a 24-hour non-stop farewell party.
Club management took to social media on Friday to break the news after “22 record-breaking years”.
“The time has come to say goodbye to a Hindley St icon. Red Square will be closing its doors this March,” the club owners wrote on Facebook.
“The street has changed dramatically in recent times, and all good things must come to an end.
“Red Square has been at the very heart of Adelaide’s club scene for over two decades; hosting countless international acts and starting the careers of many local DJs and MCs.
“Thank you to every single one of you who came through these doors.”
The Stag up for sale
Meanwhile, Rundle St’s The Stag Public House and adjacent restaurant House of George were put up for sale by the Big Easy Group this week.
The group took over the pub restaurant, now known as House of George, in 2018, transforming both venues after the previous owners fell into administration.
They are now looking for new operators to take over the pub and restaurant, which was revamped and renamed last year.
Big Easy Group director Oliver Brown said it was the right time to hand over the venue to new owners as his group focused on smaller “boutique” venues.
“The goal was always to move on at some point, and we’ve decided now is the time,” Mr Brown told The Advertiser.
“We want to focus on the restaurants and the smaller venues we have, and that boutique offering is where we’re shifting the group’s focus, so for the pub it just made sense to step away from that style of venue and continue it on while it’s profitable and successful.”
Other venues run by the Big Easy Group include east end bar NOLA, Bowden Brewing, Bandit Pizza & Wine at Hyde Park and Anchovy Bandit and Bottega Bandito in Prospect.
Mr Kim’s also hits the market
In December, McGees Property group advertised Hindley Street party venue Mr Kim’s for sale.
The club, which opened in 2013, is currently operated by the mastermind behind Crippen Place venues Electric Circus and Rocket Bar and Rooftop, Jake Phillips, who declined to comment on the sale when contacted by The Advertiser.
“McGees Property is pleased to announce for sale the business or Mr Kim’s Nightclub and Bar,” the club’s online listing states.
“The venues have hosted a variety of parties and artists including Drake, Flight Facilities, Kaytranada, The Veronicas and a plethora of after parties for large scale music events hosted in South Australia.”
Despite the sale, the online listing makes it clear the current owners aren’t selling the business off lightly, as they ask potential new owners to “continue the Kim’s legacy.”
“This business located at 134 Hindley Street, Adelaide has been at the forefront of the Hip Hop/Party scene since its inception and is now seeking an eligible operator to continue the Kim’s legacy.”
The listing has been live for just over two months.
Dog and Duck
In a surprise two-week turnaround, Dog and Duck’s emotional closure announcement last year turned out to be a PR stunt.
Despite claiming it was “closing its doors for good” in December, Dog and Duck instead moved to the Black Bull venue location in January.
It followed a very public announcement that it was disappearing from the strip on January 1, throwing one final party to say goodbye to its staff and patrons.
“It is with a heavy heart that we wish to inform you that as of January 1st, Dog and Duck will be closing its doors for good,” it said at the time.
Days later, a new post announced: “Dog is moving to Black Bull. The official take over starts tonight. Same crazy Dogs drink specials, same crew.”
Super California
The one-thriving dance spot said goodbye in December, with Penny Hospitality’s managing director Hugo Pedler saying the growing cost of living had severely impacted the number of partygoers on Hindley St.
“A number of factors has contributed to the closure of Super California, including cost of living which has drastically reduced Hindley St numbers,” said Mr Pedler, who also announced he’s closing his Gouger St restaurant Super Bueno on Christmas Eve.
“Also, Covid has changed the way the youth demographic socialise, there is more focus on bars, restaurants and cafes.”
Mr Pedler said Penny Hospitality will continue to run other venues including Rundle St restaurant Paper Tiger, The General Havelock Hotel, Wax and West Oak Hotel.
Super Bueno
Gouger Street restaurant Super Bueno was also forced to shut up shop on Christmas Eve with its owners claiming the Central Market redevelopment is causing a “significant downturn” in business.
The pasta and wine bar was opened by hospitality entrepreneur Hugo Pedler two years ago.
Mr Pedler, Penny Hospitality managing director, said the closure of Super Bueno was unavoidable given the circumstances, including increased rent, delays with the $400m redevelopment of the Central Market Arcade and demolition of carpark space.
Major construction work on the project – a joint venture between Melbourne developer ICD Property and the Adelaide City Council – will not begin until next year.
“With the market upgrade completion still 3-4 years away, we are afraid that Super Bueno will not last,” said Mr Pedler.
“We have also had unreasonable rent increases since the start of the year – it has almost doubled, which has unfortunately forced our hand to close this great venue.”
Hades Hula House
Hades Hula House owner, Abby Roennfeldt, shared the sad news of her bar’s closure in an emotional post on social media in December.
“It is with a shattered heart, we announce that Hades, the space I built for one and all to celebrate a love of imbibin’ and good vibin’, will close its doors, permanently,” said Ms Roennfeldt, one of the state’s top bartenders.
“This has implications beyond my ability to reconcile today. The grief is immense.
“Bigger venues than ours have crumbled in recent weeks, and I can only imagine the collective sadness as we each grapple with the aftermath.
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“I am sorry to everyone else this effects.”
Ms Roennfeldt first opened Hades Hula House in Semaphore in 2018, before moving the business to Hindley St’s GU Film House building on Hindley St about 18 months ago. She said Hades’ last day of trade will be December 30
Fat Controller
The owners of North Terrace nightclub Fat Controller Club closed down effective immediately in December, blaming “industry uncertainty” for the decision.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Fat Controller Club effective immediately,” said a post on the club’s social media accounts.
“The past few years have been a challenging journey, and despite our best efforts, the ongoing uncertainties within the industry have rendered it unviable for us to continue operations.
“To everyone who joined us and contributed to Fat Controller over the last eight years, we extend our sincere appreciation.
“As we close this chapter, we thank you for being a part of our journey and for making the Fat Man what it was.”
The club, which opened in 2015, was fined $5000 in July 2020 for ignoring Covid restrictions and allowing revellers to dance in a mosh pit.
Enigma
The iconic live music venue suddenly called last drinks in November 2023, citing “astronomical overheads”.
Owner-operator Eric Ott said the difficult decision to close the venue had come as a result of increasing running costs and challenges securing diverse acts both locally and internationally.
Mr Ott said the announcement came with mixed emotions, with Enigma bar a “haven for music lovers in the Adelaide live music scene”.
“(It’s) a place where hundreds if not thousands of bands and tens of thousands of patrons have created lasting memories,” he said.
“We were Adelaide’s first venue with free internet, the unique atmosphere of the beer garden (including a yummy snack of a sanga in bread from our beloved BBQ Bar), to the grassroots stage downstairs, nights out at Enigma have brought the local community closer to their favourite local, interstate and international bands and DJs.”
The venue has played host to Aussie metal bands like Ocean Grove and local rockers The Mark of Cain alongside international acts.
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