Firle Plaza is my closest shopping plaza and after living in a few different areas of Adelaide, it…read moreis definitely one of the best plaza's with a great selection of shops. The Firle Plaza has all the main necessities, a Coles, Kmart, fruit and veg shop, and a newsagents with a post office inside it. There is also a great hairdresser, a bargain shop and the most important establishment of all, a Liquorland! With a bakery/coffee shop as well it has everything you need to do your shopping and then put your feet up for a little rest. The only bad thing I would say about it is the parking is SHOCKING. Having been in the car park A LOT I have witnessed so many minor crashes from people just not looking before they pull out and because of the small size of the aisles between cars. My tip is to park on the Glynburn Rd side and walk the extra 100m, it will totally be worth it to save your car from someone backing into it. And try and exit the car park onto Glynburn Rd too, you don't need to pull out into the main pathway of traffic where a lot of people pull out without even looking. My horn has had a working out since spending a lot of time in that car park.

Firle Plaza is one of the places where I spend most of my time if I'm not at home or at uni. Why?…read moreWell, probably not because it is 'the' hotspot to hang out in the Eastern suburbs but because it's close to where I live and really has all the shops you would have to frequent for your weekly household needs. There's one massive Cole's that seems to be open all the time (it closes at 9pm during the week and reopens at 12am, for all those of you who work late or just fancy late night grocery shopping). Liquorland, K-mart, a bakery, Commonwealth bank and a newsagents have also found their homes at Firle. There is heaps of parking and it is easily accessible, with 3 entrances, from Glynburn Road. It is also walking distance to Oporto and Dominos (just opposite the road) and has a KFC, a Thai restaurant and a laundrette to its left-hand side. Next to Firle, on the right, is a hairdresser, a Priceline, a video rental store, Caffe Primo, Chicken Coop, a gym and an Indian grocery store. If it's not in Firle Plaza, it's right next to it. Amazing! Note that opening times vary according to each different shop but most are open till 9.

This shopping district is petite but I couldn't be happier I live soo close to it…read more For its size there actually is a wide variety of shops. For one two full sized supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths) within metres of each other. As well as- * A chemist/pharmacy. * A fruit and veg. * Two cafes- including a Michele's Patisserie. * A sushi bar. * Just Cuts. * Bendigo Bank. * A few clothes shops- including a Noni B and Millers. * A health foods shop. * A nail tech. * A masseuse. * A gift shop. * A bottle-o. (Hidden away down by Woolies) * An optometrist. * The Reject Shop. * An Indian restaurant. (Outside) * Jets gym. (Outside) And yet there's still a few vacant spaces for other things to eventually move in. I think a planned newsagent is popping up soon. There's also a RediATM inside, and I'm sure there's another somewhere but I just can't remember where and what. There is a lot of parking, including roof top, underground and to the east side of the building. Each have their individual access points to the inside. There's also a lift which takes you to each level, and travellators (not escalators) so also being very easy for disability access. Next door outside is also the Newton Post Office, a Chinese restaurant, another gym, and another discount variety store. So simply said this convenient corner in Newton/Rostrevor is one of the greatest establishments in the area for basically everything!! And also if you do find yourself spending too much time here at any one point, there are two public toilets in the building. (One by Coles and one near the travellators on the main level).

It's a nice little shopping centre. It's a bit messy and for anything but food shopping there isn't…read moremuch else.

Glynde Plaza is yet another example of a bad shopping plaza in the Eastern suburbs. It definitely…read moremakes it into my top 5. First of all, the Woolworths is extremely tiny, dark and has a very bad selection. I keep going back on the odd occasion because it's close to where I live and everytime there are at least a few things from my shopping list that they don't have in stock. The bakery next door is often half-empty and their bread isn't that great. You get the usual soft sandwich bread, no great sourdough or anything similar. Apart from that, there's a florist, a Panini Brothers, a men's hairdresser and a shitty discount shop with random items. I'd recommend heading down the road to Firle Plaza instead. Heaps better.

I've dropped in here a few times, mostly for impulse purchases from Panini Brothers or to grab…read moreemergency supplies from the Woolies (yes, it's small and dingy, poorly laid out and only has half the range of other Woolworths - it's like the Woolies that time forgot unfortunately) after taking the kids to Macca's to satisy their cravings for plastic food. There's a chemist here that has quite a good range, but the other little 'speciality' stores don't grab my speciality button. The Panini Brothers IS one of the better ones around, mind you, and I've grabbed several pizza bargains in the late afternoons. Overall, definitely more of a 'convenience' centre, than a destination.

As far as suburban shopping centres this place has a bit of everything: a Target, a Drake…read moreSupermarket, a Chemist, a Cherry Blossom Sushi, Cheap Variety Store, Seafood Works a Fish market store, Micheles Patisserie, a Newsagent, a Hairdresser, a Optometrist (a Spec-savers I think, but don't take my word for it) a small women's boutique, a Barossa Fine Foods, BWS, a Chicken shop, Dominos and I think that's about it... Please Correct me if I'm wrong and banking wise it has a Westpac branch and a CBA ATM. Centro Newton has a large car park, in peak times can be chaotic! So, Watch your step!

This shopping centre is local to me .. its' fine for convenience etc .. some of the staff in Target…read moreand IGA are very friendly which, to the customer is always nice & welcoming. Others are polite and courteous which is also OK. Enough variety for the foodie shopper, particularly in Italian and Mediterranean lines, for which the centre accommodates largely due to the higher ethnic population in this locality. Its' nice, has a village feel about it which is probably why it remains popular to the locals. It can get quite busy.

The Arkaba Shopping Centre is an unusual complex …read more It really caters for all your weekly shopping needs, however, it lacks something I can't put my finger on. It offers a full-size Woolworths, Australia Post, newsagent, cafe, chemist, hairdresser, butcher, fruit & vege, bakery, shoe repairer/key cutter, photo service and a Hearing Centre. It could be that given it's small size, there is no centre management. The new supermarket brings a greater number of customers to the centre, but it still feels under patronised. The centre really struggled while Woolworths spent six months in 2010 renovating the old Bilo/Coles site and extended into the Cheap as Chips store. It now has more parking and the interior has received a modern renovation. This is walking distance from me, so I'm here quite a bit. Unfortunately, I have heard Woolworths intentionally undercut the fresh fruit and veg, bucher chair and bakery. I wonder how long these places can service with this practice in place.

I'm with Rani here, the Arkaba is a little - soulless??? It's functional, it's never too busy or…read morecrowded, there's enough variety to the centre, but it just misses something. Let's look at that for a moment - I'm a Woolworths fan, although I did used to use it for the slightly different offering of the BiLo store that used to be there. The newsagency has a good range too, and I'm a sucker for a good newsagent - the cafe serves good, dependable food at a decent price and the bakery is downright cheap. I used to use the Post Office here 'cos it was never too busy, the butcher gave great service and I really liked the Chemist, too, quick and efficient, great range. I'd go out of my way to recommend the photo kiosk - preferred that in his own store but the kiosk works these days. Even the shoe guy is dependable, good at what he does and priced very fairly. There is plenty of parking, it's easy to get to, there's even some undercover parks - and the whole centre is air conditioned. OK, I *do* miss Cheap as Chips - that was my favourite store in the Cheap as Chips network and a definite drawcard for shopping at the centre, but it's not like I can't live without that... it just doesn't have something to draw me. In fact, that's it for me - it's lacking a draw card - I could go there and get anything I need - but there's lots of places I can get all that... what I don't get, at the Arkaba, is something I can't get anywhere else.

This shopping centre is between work and home so I often drop in Woolies, Dan Murphy's or Marden…read moreFruit Market. A sign apologises for any inconvenience during the upgrade but I can't see or know what management have planned. There used to be a toy shop and new shoe shop but these closed recently and no new businesses. The other shops still here are: Marden Dry Cleaners Paws for Pets at Marden Barbershop St Peters Rotary Rummage SpecSavers All-in-one Discount Store Commonwealth Bank Gas Worksmarden Show Red-C Salon Marden Shoe Repairs (Key cutting too and you can even buy & recharge your bus Metroticket) National Hearing Care Fruita Bella Faircut Meat Service Marden Continental the Big Bite snack bar Marden Health Foods L&N Massage Leon's Hair Studio Stylist Professional Tailors (alterations and repairs) Pink Lotus Furniture Australia Post Marden Florest Metro Newsagency Marden Fish Cafe Crusty's Bakehouse nyu Sakura Marden Yes Asian Supermarket National Pharmacies National Pharmacies Optical Dressing Station full figure 10 to 26 M. M. Fashions bare basics (lingerie sleepwear and hosiery) Cemons hair and beauty Bendigo Bank Amcal Pharmacy There are plenty of parks too.

The only reason I'm giving the Marden Shopping Centre 2 stars is because it's right across the road…read morefrom me and because it has a Dan Murphys. Otherwise, it's pretty useless. There's a Woolworths which I go to, but it isn't very big. There's a seedy looking fish & chips place, and a couple of fresh food places (but why bother when there's a Woolworths?). There's also a hairdressers and a couple clothing stores. Again, nothing special. Food and alcohol is the only reason I go there.

Most days you'll find me hanging out in this "mall"…read more I add parentheses because it's not a) lit with fluorescent bulbs b) full of teenagers or c) packed with chain stores. In fact, it's a lovely open air thoroughfare lined with quaint / useful / delicious stuff. First there's the ALL DAY BREAKFAST at Uncle Albert's Cafe (I stand by the all caps excitement); then there's the local Coles, which I actually like and they know us there; then there's coffee and baked goods; gifts; magazines and books; and a travel agent if you want to book an impromptu trip to Paris while on a sugar high. Ahem. Yeah. Nice!

Norwood Mall is located just opposite Cibo's on the parade, right next to Dillon's. First of all,…read moreif you don't find a parking space on the side of the road, there's heaps at the back of Norwood Mall. There's a rather small Coles in here and a random mix of other shops like souvenir and gift shops, chocolate shops, a newsagents, a dry cleaner etc. My favourite place is the greengrocer right at the entrance (when you come to the Parade). They often have great deals and better prices than supermarkets, plus all their fruit and veggies are really fresh. If you continue walking you'll find a great fresh pasta shop on your left, followed by a nice little gift shop that sells things like candles, soaps, cards etc. Another tip is the newsagents in the middle of Norwood Mall; they usually have a large table outside with heaps of books that are hugely discounted. Worth having a look at!