[COM] Rundle Place | 76m | 15lvls | Retail & Office

[[Shuz]]

Can confirm that the toilets have Dyson Airblades installed. Sure to infuriate some of you...

I love the Dyson Airplanes!

[neoballmon]

Visited after work today, must say it looked nice. The Coles looked like it had a good flow through effect for customers to get through, and I like that they have entrances from both sides. They will definitely give Woolies a run for their money. Especially for the first few weeks until the hype dies down.
Harris Scarfe looked very upmarket for a HS store, I like it if that's the way they're heading.
I like the variety of food choices in 77 as well. Provides a good mix.
As I was going from the adjoining carpark to the basement via lift, Ian McLeod (Coles CEO) also came into the lift. His looked quite pleased with how the store was operating.
One thing I didn't like was that when coming off the lift in the basement, the only way to get to Coles and 77 is by a ramp that doubles back a couple of times with a very small gradient. I'm all for providing wheelchair access, but I think they could have fit in stairs too. Even Ian looked baffled, I'm guessing he'd just arrived for the first time.

[monotonehell]

I had a look this eve' and my comment about the interior looking like Star Trek The Next Generation stands.

[pushbutton]

MY LIKES:
-Overall very stylish, comfortable, and spacious.
-Love the food court, but especially Fasta Pasta. I had a restaurant quality meal, cooked fresh (well in as much as it would be in any Fasta Pasta, and certainly not just scooped out of a bain-marie. To be able to eat such a meal in a food court, at a reasonable price, and with a nice cold beer just re-defined food courts for me! I also really like the comfortable lounge areas where you can sit and have a really relaxing coffee.
- Harris Scarfe, as others have said, is very stylish and probably about on the same level as a Myer store. I like it, and the range of stock seemed quite good.

MY DISLAKES:
Not much, except the carpets in Harris Scarfe are cheap and already a bit tatty after 1 day. I hate to think what they'll look like in a few months time.
Also it would have been nice to have an additional level of retail, and then a further level (or 2) of entertainment / leisure.
I still don't think Coles without a ceiling "works" in this instance. In a suburban new store with a high steel roof it probably does. In Harris Scarfe there are bits without ceilings and it works there, but in Coles in a basement it just looks to me as if they were cutting corners.
As others have said some stores weren't finished, and also a few were finished but closed early which was a very poor look for opening day!

AESTHETICALLY:
Very nice inside and out. When I'm wrong about something bad I am only too happy to admit it, and I was wrong about how bland and boring Rundle Place would look from outside. It looks good. Not awe-inspiring or amazing mind, but good.

GRAND OPENING:
The crowds certainly didn't look anything like in the Myer Centre opening (see video I posted above). I was there about 530pm-7pm and it wasn't too busy. I don't know about earlier in the day. I think it was good though as it made it pleasant to be there and not overcrowded. The same goes for the "Block party" which I had expected (worried) would be heaving! I do expect the centre and the rest of the CBD will be extremely busy this long weekend.

[Paulns]

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[Paulns]

Not a bad opening! Lots of people around!

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[crawf]

I did see some cons with yesterday, which are very few.

- The new see through glass lift looks great, but to use isn't so good. They are very small and not an easy task for people from prams or walking frames, wheelchairs would have better luck using the escalators!. I did notice there is other standard lifts in the complex though I didn't check them out.
- Also heard people discussing about the lack of toilets, that's pretty poor if it's true.
- Could not find a bin anywhere on the ground floor, though a very minor con which can easily be fixed.
- It was quite warm around the glass atrium, so the air conditioning needs to be improved here before the next blast of 40 degree weather.
- Agree with others about the Level 1 retailers, though at least Best & Less has a decent looking interior.

Despite these cons, Rundle Place is now the best looking shopping complex in the mall. It is perfectly designed with a wide walkway lined with high quality shopfronts connecting Rundle Mall to Grenfell Street, with Harris Scarfe occupying the two upper levels and Coles in the basement. While the foodcourt isn't very large, it still offers a good mix of eateries in a classy upmarket setup. You won't be finding KFC or McDonalds here.

One thing I noticed about walking to either Rundle or Grenfell as how old everything looks. The upgrade of Rundle Mall can't come soon enough and wish the council would hurry up and completely redevelop Grenfell Street. Furthermore, the Myer Centre feels even more outdated and a building that would be better being demolished than upgraded, even the Adelaide Central Plaza looks quite tired now.

[Xaragmata]

MY DISLAKES:
Not much, except the carpets in Harris Scarfe are cheap and already a bit tatty after 1 day. I hate to think what they'll look like in a few months time.

It looked like small carpet squares, so easy to replace any tatty bits (?). I liked the gaps in the ceiling with the floor slabs visible - reminders of the
old HS store.

[rev]

I did see some cons with yesterday, which are very few.

- The new see through glass lift looks great, but to use isn't so good. They are very small and not an easy task for people from prams or walking frames, wheelchairs would have better luck using the escalators!. I did notice there is other standard lifts in the complex though I didn't check them out.
- Also heard people discussing about the lack of toilets, that's pretty poor if it's true.
- Could not find a bin anywhere on the ground floor, though a very minor con which can easily be fixed.
- It was quite warm around the glass atrium, so the air conditioning needs to be improved here before the next blast of 40 degree weather.

Seems like teething problems that you would expect.
Lack of toilets? I haven't been yet, but I can probably guess there are adequate toilet facilities, and it's just a case of people bitching and moaning about something because they can, and being too lazy to actually walk.
I did use the car park, which has had the lifts re-done and new self-pay stations around the place.
The one of the ground floor on Grenfell st side was being installed, so I had to go up to level 2(or 4) walk down the ramp, pay, get in the lift, go up to level 3, up the ramp, and then leave. If I was one of those people I'd be complaining about a lack of pay stations on every floor right next to where I find a park!!!!!!! Oh the humanity, I had to walk a bit..

Despite these cons, Rundle Place is now the best looking shopping complex in the mall. It is perfectly designed with a wide walkway lined with high quality shopfronts connecting Rundle Mall to Grenfell Street, with Harris Scarfe occupying the two upper levels and Coles in the basement. While the foodcourt isn't very large, it still offers a good mix of eateries in a classy upmarket setup. You won't be finding KFC or McDonalds here.

It would be surprising that a building that cost $350 million to build wouldn't be the best looking shopping complex in it's precinct wouldn't it

[Norman]

Well, the Myer Centre cost more than $500m in 1995 dollars, didn't it?

[SRW]

Well, the Myer Centre cost more than $500m in 1995 dollars, didn't it?

Didn't budget blowouts and financial mismanagement mean that it actually ended up costing $1 billion?

[Brando]

Well, the Myer Centre cost more than $500m in 1995 dollars, didn't it?

Didn't budget blowouts and financial mismanagement mean that it actually ended up costing $1 billion?

Yep, $1 Billion in 1991...... Amazing

[pushbutton]

Speaking of reminders of the old Harris Scarfe there's a feature wall on the top floor of the new Harris Scarfe showing lots of old photos and advertising. I think that's a really nice touch and certainly reminds you how far they've come!

[Brando]

Overall, very impressed with how it has turned out. If I have to be picky, I hope they improve and realise the potential of those windows fronting Grenfell St on level 1. Blinds across and back of displays looks tacky.

These windows could become a draw card and a real feature of the shopping precinct if clever point of sale attention is paid to this area.

Anyone remember the movie ' Mannequin'.....

[crawf]

Well, the Myer Centre cost more than $500m in 1995 dollars, didn't it?

Didn't budget blowouts and financial mismanagement mean that it actually ended up costing $1 billion?

Yep, $1 Billion in 1991...... Amazing

And look what has happened, a centre that is considered an eyesore with the top levels being vacant for well over a decade. The Myer Centre would have to be one of the worst planning mistakes in Adelaide or Australian retail, it's a complete dive and thank god Adelaide has learnt from it.

Fingers crossed this planned upgrade makes it more appealing, though I have doubts as some sections needs some major alterations. Eg the entire atrium area, exterior.