Outdoors On Parade: Norwood store closes, building to be sold

South Australia’s iconic hot pink store is shutting up shop after more than four decades and its “tightly held blue chip property” is going on the market.

Outdoors On Parade – otherwise known as OOP – on The Parade, at Norwood will close on June 30.

Annie Lovejoy, who opened the business in 1983, said she was winding up simply because she had decided to retire.

However, store manager Zoe Sawyer will continue to run an interior design service privately.

The premises, which Ms Lovejoy painted hot pink, was a “tightly held blue chip property” that would be up for auction on May 15.

“I will really miss the company of all our customers, who span generations, and working with all the youngies,” she said.

“It’s just amazing … since we’ve announced (the closure) people have been coming in every day saying how much they will miss us.

“It has also been very special over the past 14 years to be the exclusive Adelaide stockist of Sant & Abel, the sleepwear label designed by my daughter Sophie.”

On a social media post alerting the OOP community to its “farewell tour”, Ms Lovejoy said: “Outdoors On Parade has never been just a business, it’s been a way of life.”

The interior walls of most Adelaide houses have traditionally been painted beige or, in recent years, white – thanks to the popularity of the Hamptons trend.

And that’s where OOP came in providing pops of colour, such as bright cushions, quirky crockery and bold prints, that give a home its personality.

It is also a go-to destination for presents, which are all gift-wrapped, often with a signature OOP hot pink bow, or a coffee catch-up in its in-house cafe.

OOP even offers cooking lessons, which are held in a purpose-built Smeg kitchen at the back of the store.

Former South Australian Premier Steven Marshall was among those who commented on the post.

“Thank you so much for all you’ve given over the past 43 years,” he said.

“So many happy memories in your wonderful shop on The Parade. You will be missed. There’s simply nothing like a visit or a cooking school experience at OOP!”