“We were also cognisant of the cost of a 1000 square metre store right on Rundle Mall, so we wanted to try and find something … where we were able to have the space but making sure we kept it at a manageable cost.
“We were looking for something that’s an iconic, interesting space that we could create a really interesting retail environment.”
The Regent Theatre opened in 1928 as a grand cinema with seats for more than 2200 patrons.
It was downsized in 1967 and partially trxjmtzywansformed into a shopping arcade until the smaller cinema was completely shut down in 2004.
The building’s Rundle Mall façade was state heritage listed in 1986.
The heritage listed facade of Regent Arcade. Photo: Thomas Kelsall/InDaily
Newman said the new shop will have all the hallmarks of a Dymocks store with a few tributes to the theatre’s 1920s design.
“Even though we’re designing the shop in a way that is sympathetic to the architecture of that building … ultimately the bulk of the shop fixture fittings are Dymocks’ image and they’ll be the same as what you’ll find in many of our other bookshops,” he said.
“But there are a few unique features which celebrate that architecture and that’s one of the things we like to do when we open stores is try to take something from the local area … and celebrate that in some way whether that’s through colour or images or some quirky bits of furniture.”
The move represents the latest push to revitalise the Regent Arcade precinct which has struggled with high vacancy rates and low foot traffic during the pandemic.
Last year, about the management of the precinct and a proliferation of empty shopfronts within the arcade.
Asked whether he thought low foot traffic would be an issue at Regent Theatre, Newman said: “We’re pretty confident that we can trade well out of that space.”
