Improving mall hospitality at the heart of boosting night-time visitor numbers
Should more bars and restaurants accompany shops at Adelaide’s premier shopping mall?
City
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Attracting more bars and late-night dining options to Rundle Mall is at the heart of a plan to boost visitor numbers in the evening.
Rundle Mall Management Authority chairman Peter Joy told an Adelaide City Council meeting the precinct had to catch up to other Australian capital cities by increasing its night-time hospitality options.
“Bar and dining options play an important role in activating public spaces, and we are in the early stages of developing a food and beverage strategy to attract visitors into Rundle Mall after hours, including more bars and late night dining,” Mr Joy said.
Venues that do operate past 8pm include the Richmond Hotel and Two Bit Villains, but only on certain days.
Mr Joy said the authority also wanted to upgrade laneways.
Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad said after the meeting laneways were the best way to attract late-night operators because they usually had cheaper rent than Rundle Mall.
He said the only way hospitality businsses would be lured to Rundle Mall would be if landlords wanting to create a retail mix reduced their rents.
Rundle Mall visitors had mixed reactions to the plan.
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Alisha Cocca, 19, said more bars and late-night dining would help Adelaide catch up to places like Melbourne.
“It would also bring more jobs and more of a night-life, because Adelaide doesn’t really have that,” Ms Cocca, 19, said.
However, Georgia Smith said there were already enough options.
“We have Rundle St for food and they are doing well and have a nice variety … keep (Rundle Mall) for shopping,” Ms Smith, 22, said.