Tens of millions of dollars will be pumped into the city's night-time economy thanks to extended trading hours in the CBD on Saturdays during the festival season.
Traders can open until 7pm every Saturday, between February 18 to March 18, for the first time ever as part of MallFest — a curated schedule of exciting entertainment, live performances and world-class buskers.
The changes were allowed following approval by the State Government of South Australia. Traditionally, shops could only open until 5pm on Saturdays.
Adelaide Economic Development Agency (AEDA) Executive Manager Rundle Mall Andrew White said traders would be able to cash in on extra foot traffic in the CBD.
“Foot traffic in Rundle Mall is 30 per cent higher on Saturday nights during the festival season, compared to other times during the year,” Mr White said.
“With retailers able to stay open until 7pm on Saturdays throughout the Festival Season, city visitors can continue shopping until they’re ready to go to a show or visit a restaurant for dinner or drinks. There’s no need to go home and come back again later in the night."
He said the public had "shown a strong appetite" to shop longer in the city following the uptake of extra hours on Black Friday and the lead up to Christmas.
"Extended trading offered on Black Friday and in the lead up to Christmas last year were some of the Mall’s busiest days on record," Mr White said.
“We expect these extra trading hours will add tens of millions of dollars to the city’s night-time economy across the five weeks and will deliver an incredible Rundle Mall experience for visitors.”
Dymocks, JD Sports, Sephora, Nike Adelaide, UNIQLO, Coles, Kmart, Cotton On, David Jones, Myer and H&M are among some of the Rundle Mall stores opening longer during the festival season.
H&M PR & Communications Manager AUNZ Laura Pietrantonio said the shop's customers took advantage of extended trading on Black Friday and in the lead up to Christmas.
“Trading until 7 pm on Saturdays gives our shoppers an opportunity to make the most of all the activity that’s happening in Rundle Mall and across the city during the Fringe and Festival Season," Pietrantonio said.
Dymocks Adelaide Store Manager Andrew Steadman said the store looked forward to drawing extra customers during extended hours.
“The festival season showcases the passion and vibrancy of the local and international arts community, and our store in Regent Theatre is proud to be a part of that experience," Mr Steadman said.
To bring Adelaide festival vibrancy into the heart of the shopping precinct, Rundle Mall is activating the Gawler Place Canopy as part of MallFest to support Saturday night trading.
The iconic Coopers Bar will open from 11 am daily throughout the festival season, and will serve beer, wine, spirits and charcuterie boards. There will be live DJs to entertain shoppers at the bar every Friday night.
Performers will bring festival magic and fun for families to Gawler Place each Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm, with exciting circus feats, dance, live music and more, with new shows every week.
In a partnership with BankSA, MallFest will also feature the Immersive Garden installation.
The installation is inspired by the state’s landscape and the native banksia, is free to view and created by Australian technology artists Skunk Control,
It features large-scale leaves, arranged as in nature, to reflect sunlight by day and an optical colour spectrum
by night.
Visit the Rundle Mall website for more information and to check individual store opening hours.