Peter Van the Party Man owner worried business won’t survive realignment of Springbank, Daws roads

HIS family has had the site for more than 40 years but the owner of well-known Adelaide business Peter Van the Party Man is doubtful it will survive the realignment of Springbank Rd.

Mark Van, owner of well-known business Peter Van the Party Man, is worried about the future of his business because of the realignment of Springbank Rd at Panorama. Picture: Dean Martin

• ‘Dog’s breakfast’ intersection on Goodwood Rd to be abolished

THE owner of Peter Van the Party Man is doubtful the business will survive the realignment of Springbank Rd.

Mark Van said immediately following the State Government’s announcement the road would be realigned to join Daws Rd, he was hopeful his business would survive.

“But looking at the roadworks that could happen ... and how trucks can get in and out of the business ... I can’t see how we’re going to survive,” Mr Van said.

He said under the Government’s plan released last week, the well-known shop would no longer face Springbank Rd and would miss out on business from passing traffic.

“We used to get Daws Rd and Springbank Rd traffic ... we’re going to lose that,” Mr Van said.

But Mr Van, who met with independent MP Martin Hamilton-Smith on Friday to voice his concerns, said parking and the loading of trucks were the biggest issues he was facing.

He was concerned Goodwood Rd would be widened as part of the roadworks.

“It looks like they’re going to shave off some land at the front of the building, that way I won’t be able to unload and load my trucks,” Mr Van said.

The redesigned intersection of Goodwood, Daws and Springbank roads. Picture: Supplied

All this, he said, left a cloud over the future of the business.

“I have no plans in concrete,” he said. “It’s very stressing on our staff because we don’t know what’s going on.

“It’s just so up in the air about whether we’re going to move, whether we’re going to stay, it’s very distressing because we can’t really plan.”

Mr Van opened a bread-making business on the site in 1973 with his dad, Peter.

Over the years it evolved into a party supply business.

Mr Van said the building was loaded with history.

“The actual framework of the building is an aircraft hangar ... then it was a BP service station, then an antiques store and I think we’ve been the longest tenant here,” Mr Van said.

“The business has evolved all the time over the years.”

“My father was here until he was 82, in fact it was only the last two weeks of his life he didn’t actually work in this place,” Mr Van said.

“I think he’s jumping in his grave at the moment.”