New-look Rundle Mall unveiled by Adelaide City Council to public holiday shoppers

SHOPPERS have praised the new-look Rundle Mall as pavers and trees are unveiled and management starts to trial concession businesses.

SHOPPERS have praised the new-look Rundle Mall as the pavers are unveiled and management starts to trial concession businesses.

Some hoardings at the western end of the mall have come down, giving thousands of public holiday shoppers on Monday a taste of what the $30 million project would look like when finished, including rows of Chinese elms.

Colleen Marangos, of Kingswood, said the pavers of different sizes and shades of grey were "clean and contemporary looking".

But she said the project's success would hinge on concession traders in the absence of the old fruit and veg and flower sellers.

"It needs that because that's what was good about the old mall.

"If it's just like a runway strip it won't have the same character as before."

Coffee Cow trailer owner Tony Brownbill, who operates around town under the City Council's food truck scheme, has applied to operate in a concession space in the mall and is trialling the concept this week.

"We come in here knowing that eyes are on us to see how it works out," he said.

"All the tourists love it."

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Mr Brownbill, who used to run an internet cafe in Hindley St, said the concession spaces presented another big opportunity for entrepreneurs.

"This has given a person from a bricks-and-mortar background a chance to come back and not have to fork out for a $100,000 shop fitout like I have before."

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Rodd and Gunn manager Grant Leske was relieved major works were finally finished outside his shop.

"Once the seating goes in and it all looks complete in this section, it will look terrific," he said.

George Stouppos, of O'Halloran Hill, liked that the mall was "a lot more open than it used to be", while Magill resident Jade Monserrat said the pavers looked good but wasn't sure the upgrade was worth the money.

The project will be finished as far as Gawler Place by early next month, when work will stop for the Christmas shopping period until the New Year.

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