Construction has commenced on the $385 million Adelaide “Rundle Place” retail development, with SA-based Harris Scarfe one of the first fashion retailers to sign on for flagship store at the precinct.
The mixed-use centre, due to open in 2013, will house 85 leading retail stores over four interconnected, free-flowing floors once complete and marks one of the city's most significant new retail developments for 20 years.
Built by Pacific Development, and located at 77-91 Rundle Mall between Myer and David Jones, the centre aims to re-energise Rundle Mall and the Adelaide CBD and will also feature the first full line Coles supermarket in the area, as well as an expansive international food court capable of seating 500 people and an adjoining car park boasting 500 casual spaces.
Overall, the precinct, designed by leading retail architects – The Buchan Group (Australia) & RTKL (Int.), will offer 22,500 square metres of experiential retail space with the intersecting cafe-filled Francis Street also attracting foot traffic. The project will also incorporate a linked Commercial Office on nearby 80 80 Grenfell Street, developed in partnership with EPC Partners, and constructed over 11 levels with 30,000 square metres of gross floor area.
Currently, 23 million people visit Rundle Mall each year, with 85% of all tourists to Adelaide also visiting Rundle Mall, with the project set to increase this figure by positioning the precinct as Adelaide’s premiere fashion, food and style destination.
The project has also been described as a show of confidence by Pacific Development in the Adelaide CBD and the State of South Australia, and Ilona Rose, project leasing manager for Rundle Place said retailers have welcomed news of the project.
“We have had an exceptionally positive response from all the leading brand retailers. Their input has been fundamental in the direction and design of the centre. The feedback the Pacific Group has received is that they have been waiting for exactly this kind of aspirational development for some time,” she said.
Commenting on their new flagship store, Joe Barberis, managing director Harris Scarfe Australia said, “Harris Scarfe is delighted to be a key part of the new Rundle Place development. Harris Scarfe has been trading in Rundle Mall for nearly 100 years and this will set us up for the next 100 in a world class retail centre.