Topham Mall cafe forced to close as laneway upgrades are delayed, other businesses struggling
BUSINESSES have been forced to shut their doors, one permanently, in the wake of ongoing construction works in two of the CBD’s most frequented laneways.
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BUSINESSES have been forced to shut their doors, one permanently, in the wake of ongoing construction works in two of the CBD’s most frequented laneways.
City-goers are also fed up with the paving works in Topham Mall and Bank St, with many avoiding the area to the detriment of traders — some of whom have lost a third of their trade.
Work on the $14.6 million Market to Riverbank Link, a joint Renewal SA and Adelaide City Council project, began in Bank St in June and Topham Mall in April.
The project involves new paved footpaths, trees, improved lighting, street furniture and public art to connect the laneways between the Adelaide Central Market and the River Torrens.
Road closures and altered pedestrian paths during construction have had a bigger impact on businesses than first expected, with work to continue until mid-December.
In Topham Mall, Cafe Ela’te closed permanently last week and attributed its loss of trade to the construction.
A few shops north, Lady Burra Brewhouse venue manager Tom Broomhead said noise and dust was “wreaking havoc” for businesses around the mall.
He said the brewhouse’s main access point was through Topham Mall but concreting and paving out the front “has given us no access or limited access through there for days at a time”.
Disability access to the building at 41 Currie St has also been closed for “even a week or two”, Mr Broomhead said.
“Coming in to the better weather in summer we have noticed there has been a little bit of a downturn compared to this time last year,” he said.
“Probably 20 to 30 per cent, so pretty considerable.”
The Advertiser understands that underground infrastructure caused some delays to paving works in Topham Mall, pushing its expected completion date from around October to December 15.
Some businesses asked the council for rent reductions but were denied and told they would not be financially compensated.
At Bank St, an Australia’s Pizza House employee, who didn’t want to be named, said she could leave the doors open for only three of the 12 hours the store opened each day due to the dust, resulting in people thinking the business was closed.
“Usually daily sales are around $800 to $1000 but now its about $400 to $500,” she said.
Strathmore Hotel manager Tim Riemann, who also manages the Thirsty Camel bottle shop on Bank St, said he was trying to focus on the long-term benefits to the area.
“For me, it’s not as significant as some of the other food operators but (we have lost) 10 per cent,” he said.
Member for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson said the “snail’s pace approach” showed the State Government did not understand the pressures on small businesses.
“The pace of progress needs to increase immediately and dramatically,” she said.
“The Government stepped in with an extra $10 million to speed up the tram extension to meet their political timelines, surely something can be done to speed up this project and compensate businesses for their loss of trade.”
Renewal SA said in an emailed statement that it was working with the council to “support Bank Street businesses and Topham Mall North throughout the construction period”.
Traders were told work is due to begin in Bentham St around February next year, with Pitt St to follow.
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