How Adelaide’s iconic O’connell St is becoming a ghost town

IT’S one of the best known streets in Adelaide, sitting just north of the CBD, but half the shops at one end of it are now vacant — and that has the local traders’ association worried.

A street view of O’Connell St from Google maps ... half the shops at the southern end are now vacant.

ALMOST half the shops at the south end of O’Connell St are vacant, prompting concerns from North Adelaide Precinct Association president David Johnson.

The section, between Brougham Place and Ward St, has six of 13 shops vacant.

Among the businesses to vacate the strip in the past year are Goodlife Pizza, Hypoxi Body Boutique and Nina Stephanie.

Mr Johnson said the western side was of particular concern.

“I don’t know whether it’s the rent being too high but I do notice on the signs it’s been reduced,” Mr Johnson said.

“I think lowering rent is one of the key factors to meet the market there.

“The eastern side is a bit better.

“There’s a development proposed for the brown building on the corner.”

O’Connell St’s overall vacancy rate is between seven and eight per cent according to Adelaide City Council.

Adelaide Lord Mayor Martin Haese said it was always concerning when you had empty shops.

“I acknowledge that retail is still tough going in the current economic climate,” Mr Haese said.

“It (the section of O’Connell) is incredibly important and I know our councillors who represent the area know this.

“We would certainly prefer the trend to be following city office vacancies where we’re seeing exceptionally high demand.”

Mr Haese said the council did “all that we can to help promote retailers through our website” and that other businesses were thriving.

“Several retailers in that general vicinity continue to do well, including business like The Curious Squire, Burgerstronomy, Zambrero and Black Eyed Coffee to name just a few,” he said.

Some O’Connell St businesses, such as The Curious Squire, are going strong. Picture: Roger Wyman

Yots Hair owner Rebecca Varsos said it had not affected her business.

“From a business point it hasn’t really affected us,” Ms Varsos said.

“But from the way it looks it would certainly be more aesthetically pleasing for them to be filled.

“We need to find the right mix of businesses though.”

Ms Varsos did not believe rents were the issue.

“Times are tough,” she said.

“People only spend money on what they need.

“Perhaps the businesses just weren’t doing well.”

Goodlife Pizza closed last year but co-owner Marty Greenrod did not wish to comment.