After 45 years, the party’s over for Peter Van the Party Man

A forced acquisition to make way for a major intersection upgrade will see an Adelaide institution closing its doors for the final time tomorrow.

Mark Can started the Peter Van the Party Man business with his father Peter in 1974.

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For more than four decades, it’s been a landmark of Adelaide’s inner south but today Mark Van will close the doors of Peter Van the Party Man for the final time.

Mr Van, along with a nearby service station, received an acquisition notice in May.

The party-supplies businesses will be demolished to make way for the State Government’s $60 million upgrade of Springbank-Daws-Goodwood Rd.

After the Government “changed its mind” on funding relocation costs, Mr Van’s hopes of continuing his business sank.

“It has come down to the Government,” he said.

“They were originally going to relocate us but we found out in late January they were going to extinguish the business.”

Peter Van the Party Man was opened in Panorama in 1974 by Mr Van, his father Peter and mother Betty.

Mr Van, now 64, said his father worked in the shop right up to the weeks before his death almost 11 years ago at 82.

Mr Van said it was hard saying goodbye to permanent staff today.

“The staff here have been very supportive,” he said.

“I’m very lucky to have had such good staff.”

Mr Van said he hoped to spend his retirement volunteering for Salvation Army, and spending more time with his grandchildren.