A Christmas tree has been erected and the first pop-up store is in place. But a week after the closure of the first stretch of one of Sydney's busiest CBD streets, retailers are divided over whether it is helping to coax more people onto their stretch of George Street between Market and King streets.
With Christmas eight weeks away, one thing they can agree on is that an end to buses screaming up and down George Street has made their strip a quieter and more pleasant experience. The first section of the street to be closed for the construction of a $2.1 billion light rail project occurred on October 23.
Dymocks managing director Steve Cox said his company's bookstore on George Street had experienced a 15 per cent rise in foot traffic over the past week. "The buses and the cars and the taxis were far noisier than what we are experiencing right now, and people are enjoying the experience," he said.
Dymocks, which has pedestrian counters above the footpath, has forecast double-digit growth in sales from its George Street store in the lead up to Christmas. Historically, about 136,000 people pass the Dymocks store every week.
However, Jurlique says the number of pedestrians venturing into its skin-care shop has fallen about 10 per cent over the past two weeks, which it partly blames on an end to buses driving along one of the city's best-known streets. Previously, buses had helped to funnel passengers into stores or, resulted in people shopping while they waited for a ride.
"We are hoping to get more traffic once the [pop up] stores on the street open," Jurlique assistant store manager Ellie Yu said.
On the western side of the road, clothing retailer Factorie says there has "definitely been a decrease" in people walking into its shop over the past week. "It's hard to tell whether it will improve or get worse," store manager Tyler Bryce said.
A nearby Oakley store says pedestrian traffic has "ebbed and flowed" since the first section of George Street was closed a week ago.
"Compared with this time last year, we are still on par. But we are one week in, so it's hard to judge," senior sales representative Elijah Phillips said.
A Dick Smith store, near the corner of George and Market streets, says foot traffic has been about the same as usual.
"If you are a good shop, it doesn't matter where you are located, customers are going to come to you," store manager Graham Bowd said. "If you are in the middle of George Street, and not as well known, you could see it being a struggle."
Retail Council chief executive Anna McPhee said noise levels had fallen since buses stopped plying George Street in early October, although she conceded it would grow next year when heavier construction work began on the light rail project.
The next section of George Street to be closed to vehicles will be between Market and Park streets on December 3. The entire route for the light rail line is 12 kilometres, and its construction has been divided into 31 zones, each of which will be closed separately.
CBD co-ordinator Marg Prendergast said traffic volumes fell in the city's core early this week but old habits appeared to be creeping back as more motorists decided to drive on key inner-city streets.
"We need the street capacity that we have, which is reduced, for those who need to be here. It takes those who need to be here such as taxis, tradies, couriers and deliverers longer to get to where they need to go," she said. "Every section we close is going to get harder."
