The Metro Shopping Centre has always struggled to attract patrons. I've never understood it; all those wonderful stores with a plenty of parking and in an affluent area with many non-working women. This place should be pumping!
I'm no expert in shopping centre design, but most of the ones I shop at have cafes. I, for one, like to sip coffee while I'm browsing the shops. Alternatively, most women I know, meet a friend for a drink or a bite to eat and then browse the shops.
The Metro doesn't have a cafe. Until recently, you had to go outside the centre and cross a road for a coffee and neither cups I had were that great. The Metro used to have a Caffe Primo, (not that I'd recommend them for coffee) but the entrance was on to Unley Road with nowhere nearby to park (other than out the official car park at the back). I think that's why it didn't last long.
MaxMix, recently opened next to Witchery and this small, beautiful gift store, makes coffee and offers some yummy things to nibble on with your cuppa. There are a few tables outside the store with the entrance looking down the main aisle of the centre, so it's pretty easy to spot.
The only times I've seen The Metro absolutely pumping was when Country Road invited their VIPs for the biannual sale.
Portabellos at the northern end are an award-winning hair salon and have a fantastic trade of their own. Thank goodness they don't have to rely on foot traffic from Metro shoppers. I get my hair done here and quite happy wonder through the centre to the centre toilets with my hair covered in colour and foils. There's a high chance I won't run into a single person during the journey to the bathrooms.
This oddly designed centre also has a NAB and a few other stores with entrances from the street. I can't tell you what they are as there are no car parks out the front of these store. I only drive past them to enter the rear parking.
The other big drawcard here is the George Gross and Harry Who store. Most of the outlets are definitely targeted towards the 45+ age bracket, but if I need to pick up an outfit or some accessories and am in a mad rush, I know I can grab an easy park out the back and the sales assistant is bound to be as free as a bird to help me with a speedy purchase. read more