SIGNS of the forthcoming refurbishment of shops beneath Allendale Square are becoming apparent to city workers.
At least two shops, one that had been there for many years, have left the arcade.
Olgas Florist has taken its chance to seize a street-level location and is now brightening people’s days from street level at 66 St Georges Terrace – almost directly across the road from its former home.
Nelson Dubois Optometrists also has left the arcade, however, it is gone from Perth for good.
Its owner, Wayne Dubois, decided to sell his practice to Abernathy Owens Optometrists and retire to his native US.
Ralph Sarich confirmed he had bought the second half of Allendale Square for $45 million last month through his company Cape Bouvard Investments.
However, settlement on that sale is yet to be completed.
The latest deal came just seven months after Cape Bouvard had paid General Property Trust $45 million for the first half of the building.
Cape Bouvard Investments marketing and sales manager Steve Hill said the Allendale Square building had already undergone a $3 million renovation and that an upgrade of the shops beneath the building was soon to start.
“We’ve had some of the other tenancies relocated from the arcade to the building, such as the gymnasium, so they could keep trading,” Mr Hill said.
It is understood Cape Bouvard wants to carry out a $20 million to $25 million upgrade of the CTA Building behind Allendale Square that will create more floor space.
Redevelopment works are planned to take the Allendale Square Arcade all the way through to the Esplanade to create a link with St Georges Terrace.
