Flower shop latest closure on King William Rd “disaster” $15.5m upgrade
Yet another shop has closed on a major shopping precinct undergoing a major and controversial $15.5m upgrade by an Adelaide council.
- Landlord: ‘They have destroyed the street’
- Carparking biggest issue on King William Rd
- Traders positive about future on King William Rd
- Bakery first to close during road upgrade
Yet another well known shop on King William Rd will close permanently this weekend as the Hyde Park shopping precinct undergoes a controversial $15.5m makeover by Unley Council.
Flowers 152 has been a presence on the road for almost five years but owner Connie Rhigas said she has had no alternative than to close the doors and sustain “colossal losses”.
“There’s no point paying wages and carrying the little stock there is – we’re just better off paying the rent and leaving it empty,” Ms Rhigas, who has been in business 26 years said.
“I’m old enough to know what happened on the road last time there was an upgrade and I feared this.
“Locals have been lovely and supportive — but it’s just not enough.”
Ms Rhigas said in recent weeks with the road closed the store had been returning less than 10 per cent of the income it need to pay all weekly bills.
Even the reopening of the road two weeks ago has made little difference to trade.
“As much as the council want to say the road is open - I’m sorry, but that’s rubbish,” she added.
‘It’s only open in one direction at a time and people are still avoiding the area.
“Restaurateurs and food shops are doing okay but others I know are struggling.”
With four other successful and thriving flower stores along Unley Rd, Norwood Parade, Hutt Street and Rundle Mall, Ms Rhigas says it is a blow to lose her fifth store.
“I’m very sad but I don’t feel like a bad business owner as we’ve still got four stores going strong,” she said.
“This is not sour grapes as I’m all for redevelopment and growth but this has been a disaster.
“It’s not the flower business – it’s the road.”
Ms Rhigas, whose first store was the Adelaide Flower House in Unley agrees with the Duke Group of Companies – that owns 48 properties on the street — that carparking will be a continuing issue at the completion of the project scheduled for February.
She confirmed her own landlord offered a month free rent but it wasn’t enough to survive.
Flowers 152 is the fourth store to close permanently since the upgrade began in June.
The Advertiser is aware several other traders will not renew their lease or have tried to negotiate a release from their contract.
Unley chief Peter Tsokas said the council was “sad” to hear about the closure of any business in the council area.
“We wish the owners and staff of Flowers 152 all the best with future endeavours, understanding this is a difficult decision to make and takes into account many factors,” Mr Tsokas said.
“Each year, City of Unley undertakes a vacancy study across the City, showing that King William Road has an occupancy of over 90 per cent.
“Council is proactively working with the landlords and the King William Rd Trader Association on ways to attract businesses to the area.
Mr Tsokas said the council had worked hard to ensure to minimise disruption to businesses.
“One-on-one visits have occurred with businesses leading up the works and these will continue during the works program,” he added.
“The road is open to traffic and the project remains on schedule.
“We encourage the community to support the businesses during the upgrade.”