For the past five years beloved vintage store Dulcie’s Shop of Real Opportunity has called its storied Kidman Park premises home.
Now it’s on the move, as “custodians or chief volunteers” – media identity Amanda Blair and PR queen Michele D’Aloia focus their attention on the not-for-profit’s city operations.
“We’ve advised our landlords we won’t be renewing but our lease goes up until July next year, so if we can find someone that wants to go into the space before then we would happily hand it over and focus our efforts on the bus again and our Adelaide Arcade store,” business manager D’Aloia said.
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“It’s a beautiful store, it’s just having two shops as a volunteer-run not-for-profit is stretching our resources way too thin, hence the decision to consolidate our activities,” she said.
The 326 Grange Rd, Kidman Park store – which was a bank, a Christian supplies store and a call centre in previous lives – opened as an extension of the bus and a way of serving the people of Adelaide during the Covid era.
Michele D’Aloia with Amanda Blair at Dulcie’s Op in Kidman Park. Picture: Tim Joy
The pair have turned Dulcie’s into a beloved institution. Picture: Tim Joy
Sporting “the greatest changerooms in Adelaide”, as both women attest, D’Aloia has some hot ideas about its next potential tenant.
“It’s time for it to have a new life as a wellness space – either hot yoga or pilates or a medical-type facility, because it’s got carparking on site, it’s a decent size, and with that op shop precinct location, it has become a bit of a destination,” she said.
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Since Blair founded it, Dulcie’s has amassed an army of about 20 volunteers, including a dedicated “ironing god” and four sewers who repair the donated 20-plus-year-old goods.
“The building was our first retail offering apart from our bus and it has been wonderful,” Blair said.
The store’s exterior, boasting “Fashion That Feels Good”. Picture: Tim Joy
In 2019, St John’s Grammar was the first school to team with Dulcie’s Bus recycled fashion co-op to go second-hand for their school formal.
“We’ve got this incredible group of women who get together each week and it’s a real blessing and a real joy.
“We’re leaving it with nothing but good karma, good feelings and good vibes and hopefully someone can honour that.”
For more information contact Commercial SA.