MORE Armadale businesses may need to open on Sundays to remain competitive over fears the rollout of Sunday trading across Perth could reduce patronage to the Armadale CBD.
Business Armadale president Peter Mulder said as a special trading precinct, Armadale already enjoyed Sunday trading but despite this status many shops remained closed on Sundays.
The CBD will lose its special status next month when all general retailers in Perth will be allowed to open Sunday afternoons.
“We’ve definitely lost the advantage but now that is going will that increase competition and more shops will open,” he said.
“Will it attract more shoppers?”
Graeme Hill, owner of Dome in Jull Street, said Sunday was the best trading day and the coffee shop rode on the back of the shopping centre.
“I think big shopping centres are still going to dominate the business,” Mr Hill said.
He said more should be done to attract shoppers to the Armadale CBD.
Security problems in the Armadale CBD seemed to deter people after dark and, despite the presence of CCTV, he said the Jull Street mall was undervalued and need more shops and restaurants to attract a vibrant patronage.
Across the mall, Atkinson’s Pharmacy manager Tom Atkinson said the pharmacy did not open Sundays because of cost factors and he was unsure if he could attract quality staff to work on a Sunday.
But if other chemists were to open in the area then Atkinson’s could be forced to open also to remain competitive.
Meanwhile, Gosnells City Business and Tourism Association president Hazel McGinty said she did not think Gosnells would take advantage of seven day trading.
“I don’t think we’ll see many businesses open. I don’t think we’ve got the market for it,” Ms McGinty said.
“It’s about the cost and a lot of small businesses here are struggling,”
Win Marchant said Stargate Shopping Centre in Kelmscott would formally open on Sundays, although the pharmacy, Supa IGA and bakery already trade on Sundays.
She expects the Supa IGA to lose some customers to Coles.
Armadale Shopping City centre manager Robert Debenham said the centre expected Sunday trading to strengthen.