Friendly Sales Assistant at ReadeBook
Brickworks Marketplace is a shiny new shopping mall on South Road at Torrensville. Centred around the usual Woolworths and Big W stores, Brickworks Marketplace will not shock first time visitors with too many unexpected revelations.
If you're already familiar with shopping malls such as Castle Plaza then you will quickly grasp the concept of Brickworks Marketplace. However there are still some pleasant surprises.
The Entrance to Brickworks Marketplace
This huge new redevelopment of the former Brickworks Markets had a turbulent and tumultuous conception. The mum and dad traders who had occupied the
Brickworks Markets for decades were unsurprisingly unhappy when the West Torrens Council
gave them the boot. As they were all small traders, most had pinned their hopes for a sound financial future on their shops.
Sadly the
former traders at the Brickworks were misguided in their hopes, and they are probably all collecting our tax dollars for their troubles. Woolworths wanted their land. The West Torrens Council wanted more money. And even many customers of the old Brickworks Markets thought that it was time-worn and lacking in interesting product, so the quirky markets were despatched to the dustbin of history.
The Original Brickworks Markets before Demolition
The new Brickworks Marketplace opened on June 25 2015, to some fanfare. All the usual politicans were there including Treasurer "Turbo" Tom Koutsantonis who suddenly developed a startled rabbit-in-the-headlight look when asked about the future of the former traders. He was happier to spruik the 600 new jobs, 45 new shops, and 700 car parks.
If figures are your forte you might want to know that this new shopping mall has a catchment area with an average age of 38 years, average household size 2.2 people, around $35k pa income, and 37% are couples with no kids. (Source: Brickworks Marketplace
advertisement).
Pedestrian Walkways Through the Car park
So what can you expect at the Brickworks Marketplace?
If the first couple of days are any guide then be prepared to wait for a park. Of course it's probably opening fever, and the locals will no doubt be happy when that's subsided. A pleasant surprise were the dedicated walkways and pedestrian crossings in the car park, making it easier to push your trolley of takings back home.
Brick Lane Playground for Kids
Work was still in progress at Brick Lane, the northern end of Brickworks Marketplace adjacent to the heritage listed brickworks when I visited. It seems that there will be something to connect the two, but it wasn't clear what. At the western end of Brick Lane a soft floored playground was popular with a tribe of toddlers while their parents played with mobile phones.
Zambrero Mexican Food on Brick Lane
Nearby the latest addition to
Zambrero's Mexican franchise (with a humanitarian face) was doing a roaring trade with plenty of punters enjoying the opportunity for alfresco dining. Zambrero offers tacos, burritos and nachos, but I haven't tried their food yet.
Food Choices at the North End of the Shopping Mall
Heading south into the Brickworks Marketplace shopping mall uncovered a few surprises - if you come hungry you will have plenty of food choices.
ReadeBook is a combination bookstore and cafe that was already busy. The Cicheti Italian food bar was not yet open, but
Joy of India, Dumpling Dumpling were already open and
Iiced had gelati with all the colours of the rainbow.
There were plenty of the usual suspects you'll find in most modern shopping malls. A Smokemart, the ubiquitous Specsavers, engravers and keycutters, Flight Centre, Zamels and EB Games jostled for your attention with Vodafone and Optus. Rockmans Clothing and Moda Alterations were new to me though.
Take Away Food Choices Include Tokyo Sushi and Yiros Central
At the north end of Brickworks Marketplace is where the crowds were at lunchtime. More food choices abounded and most tables were taken with what looked like locals in work clothes. If you couldn't find something to your taste here, then you are fussy. Tokyo Sushi, Yiros Central, and
Zeea's Eatery for Italian food were all doing a roaring trade. Another shop, probably Three Little Cafe was still being fitted out
.
Yiros Central in the Shopping Mall
The new Brickworks Marketplace at Torrensville will fill the bill for an area lacking in shopping facilities close by. I thought the food choices were somewhat more inspired than average, but others may disagree. At the end of a day it will be successful, and doesn't the end justifies the means?
See the Brickworks Marketplace
website for a complete list of shops, although descriptions are sparse as yet. Of course there's a F
acebook page too. If you feel a bit parched after traversing the Brickworks Marketplace car park you will be pleased to know that a Dan Murphy's liquor store awaits you in Torrensville too.
