The iconic Fisherman’s Wharf Market in Port Adelaide closes forever on Sunday

Last doughnuts, folks. This weekend marks the end for a beloved market in Adelaide’s west – the shed which houses it is being demolished to make way for redevelopment.

For 30 years, Danny and Robyn Smans have been a fixture at the Fisherman’s Wharf Market at Port Adelaide with their trademark doughnuts.

On Sunday, they will join 120 stallholders in farewelling regular customers as the weekly market closes its doors for the last time.

The large shed which hosted the market for three decades will be demolished as part of the Port’s redevelopment.

Ms Smans said they saw a gap in the Adelaide market for mini doughnuts after trying some at a food convention in Sydney.

“We brought it back to Adelaide and away we went; we never looked back,” Mr Smans said.

“We took a gamble on it, a lot of people said it wasn’t going to work but I said ‘no’.”

The couple started at the market in 1993 and said in 30 years, they have only taken 10 days off.

Robyn and Danny Smans and their Danny's Mini Donut van which they have run at the Fishermans Wharf Market for 30 years. Picture: Mark Brake

Ms Smans, 63, and Mr Smans, 65, said they will miss the community and the people from the market the most.

“It’s sad. I must admit when we found out [about the demolition] and given a date, everyone went through a grieving process,” Ms Smans said.

The Smans said they are taking a break after the market closes and plan to announce their future location on social media.

Owner of the market site and long-time Port developer Hans Ehmann, who grew up in Port Adelaide, said the Port “has the potential to be a leading SA city once more”.

Mr Ehmann said the market building is expected to be demolished by the end of the year, afterwards it will be sealed and become an interim car park.

Developer Hans Ehmann pictured at the market. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“We’d rather the area was presentable as a car park rather than a demolition site given that the construction and development process is a lengthy one,” he said.

Mr Ehmann said the car park will provide income to pay for “substantial outgoings” on the site as developments are planned and approved for the Queen’s Wharf area.

“The redevelopment of the site will add far more to the economic and social vibrancy of the Port and this is what is important to us.”

Mr Ehmann said discussions with architects, planners and financers are continuing on development plans for the area, which will be announced when they are settled.

Mayor of Port Adelaide Enfield Claire Boan said council staff have engaged with stallholders at the markets to “understand their needs” and “explore opportunities to transition to whatever is next for them”.