Parramall shopping centre, Greenway Plaza to be demolished for Parramatta metro station
Work on a multi-billion Metro station will soon replace two popular shopping Parramatta malls. Find out the future of the retailers who have served their customers for decades.
Parramatta
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Like a lot of Parramatta landmarks, Parramall and Greenway Plaza will be consigned to the history books when traders vacate the shopping centres by the end of June but some long-running businesses are determined to continue trading locally.
The handful of tenants left in the 1960s-built Parramall, the 40-year-old Greenway Plaza and surrounding shops will be forced to vacate their businesses by June 30, signalling another wave of disruption for the CBD to pave the way for the state government’s Metro, which will open in 2030.
The project has also prompted memories, whether it was shopping at Parramall Meats, Franklin’s supermarket, Parramall Donuts or Japanese eatery Kanzo.
Parramatta Historical Society’s Jeff Allen recalls Coles’ food hall, snack bar and cafe where the Greenway Plaza stands. He shares the general consensus that the malls have become daggy and, while they are not heritage-listed, their demise is a sad day for small businesses.
“I think it’s a shame because we’ve lost a lot of little businesses like shoe repairs,’’ Parramatta councillor Patricia Prociv said.
“It’s the little businesses that we miss that no longer exist in Parramatta.’’
At Filthy Gorgeous Accessories in Parramall, Carol Sullivan has co-owned the business with Jenny Grenenger for 13 years and recalled when the shopping centre was a vibrant hub, starkly different to the bleak space it is now.
“Thirteen years ago we had an IGA, a butcher, a bakery, another jeweller and cafe was open,’’ she said.
“There was a newsagent. It was a thriving arcade.
“The reason we’ve survived here is because we have a really good band of working women that don’t have time to leg it to Westfield, so this is in walking distance for them.’’
The mall’s handy location between the train station and the courts complex meant she has also been a shoulder to lean on for those on their way to divorce settlements and shouting themselves a “divorce present’’ after the legal paper work was sorted.
There were also some accounts of the gritty life, such as when traders had to make three citizen arrests at the mall.
Since the post office relocated from Macquarie St for the Parramatta Square development, Mrs Sullivan said business had dropped as passers-by diverted their journey away from the mall.
“That was the start of it. It’s just gone down and down and down,’’ Mrs Sullivan said.
The Brooklyn woman understands development is inevitable but would not want to relocate in Parramatta in the “state it’s in”.
“Parramatta is going to be great — I can’t wait for it — but for small businesses to try and live through the construction and the light rail and the boarded up buildings … it’s going to be a nightmare for five years,’’ she said.
“You have to have progress — I understand that. It’s just unfortunate for the small person.’’
Unlike Mrs Sullivan, her fellow mall trader John Yoo from Parra Shoe Repairs only wants to continue his business of almost 20 years in Parramatta, so he can be close to home at Harris Park and continue serving his loyal customers.
He is eyeing a spot across the road at the Civic Arcade, which, along with the Mayfair Plaza, is not yet earmarked for development.
“All my customers are regular customers so as long as I stay in Parramatta they will come to me but if I move somewhere I will lose my regular customers,’’ he said.
Much to many foodies’ relief, other shops who have managed to keep their services in Parramatta are Pho Master and Kanzo, which made the short journey up George St.
After an anxious wait over dealing with compensation, Western Sydney Kebabs owner Tolga Turan will shift the successful family business across George St.
“ … Now we're a bit more relieved because we’re a well established business here and the community knows where to come for kebabs,’’ he said.
Next door, Honey Persian restaurant owner Mandana Samani is uncertain if she will reopen her business after next month but doubts she can afford the rental space in Parramatta.
The bulldozing of the City Centre Carpark is also repelling her from trading in Parramatta, as she notes how important it is for her diners to have somewhere to park for “four or five hours”.
A short-lived but popular business that won’t return is Uncle Kurt’s Bar, underneath the carpark, which served last drinks in April.
At Greenway Plaza, you can hear a pin drop save for the hum of soothing music playing from Cure Massage.
Menu boards advertising stodgy dishes are displayed for no customers in a food court that was often packed with hungry workers since it opened in 1981.
Nail bars, handbag and clothing shops that added to the mix are long gone.
A Sydney Metro West spokesman said it had worked with directly-affected businesses to offer compensation since late 2019.
Traders have until June 30 to leave and construction will start late this year. The 805-space Civic Centre carpark will remain accessible to the public until late September.
The malls are not the first of their kind consigned to the history archives.
The Connection Arcade opposite the Parramatta train station on Church and Darcy streets, was wiped out to make way for Parramatta Square 4, which replaced businesses such as hairdressers, newsagent, a shoe repair business and, on the upper level, professional practices such as orthodontists.
Until recently, Parramatta’s arcades have held their own against the Westfield juggernaut since it opened in 1975.
Work started on Parramatta’s first shopping arcade in 1925, and the suburb was home to David Jones’ first suburban store in 1961.
Queensland Arcade, home to 25-year-old business Beatdisc Records, has so far escaped the constant threat of development.
Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger grew up visiting Parramall but says retail habits have changed.
“I have fond memories of Parramall, frequenting the doughnut shop there when I was younger, but its glory days are long behind it and its time for a more vibrant retail offering in the heart of our city,’’ he said.
“The 1980s Parramatta was all about arcades, the Parramatta of today is about access and amenity to a wide gamut of shops, dining and entertainment experiences.
“The nature of retail has always been changing and it will continue to change. While some of us will bid a nostalgic farewell to Parramall, shoppers at the day vote with their feet and their wallets and retailers need to respond with new and enticing offerings to get customers through their doors.’’
Mr Borger has welcomed the metro station, which he said was a “oncein-a generation opportunity to renew this central block of the Parramatta CBD and bring forward the City of Parramatta’s vision for the Civic Link connection between Parramatta Square and the new Powerhouse Parramatta’’.
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