One of the most exotic features of Adelaide Arcade was the Turkish Baths which occupied the south eastern corner. They were lavishly fitted out by the proprietors. Clients were given a choice of warm baths at a shilling and Turkish baths at four shillings. In May 1935 the lease was taken over by Alfred Netter and Alexander Solomon, who commissioned alterations in an attempt to boost trading. This was the advent of the central booths, in the modern idiom of the thirties and also the box electric lighting above the shops. In 1968 extensive alterations occurred with an addition of a walkway at the first floor level which doubled the number in old shops in the Arcade. This also precipitated the disappearance of most of the internal stairways. To increase downstairs shop space, mezzanines were added. In 1970 the existing tiles needed replacing due to wear, and unfortunately although the owners wished to retain the old pattern, they could not be lifted, therefore the new tiles were laid on top. The new tiles were supplied by the Old English Tile Company.

On August 3rd 1980, the building caught on fire. Gays Arcade, where the fire originated was completely gutted, and Adelaide Arcade was extensively damaged to the cost of 2 million dollars. The entire Arcade was closed for trading for over a week.

Naturally, like all old buildings, Adelaide Arcade is believed to own a resident ghost! The Adelaide Arcade caretaker, called a Beadle, in the early years of the 1900's came to a nasty end, having his head mutilated in the electricity generator. The newspaper report of the time was quite graphic in every detail. There have been intermittent reports over the years of sightings, strange footsteps, objects being moved from where they belong, and other strange phenomena which cannot be explained. Adelaide Arcade is a beautiful historic building and the current owners are endeavouring to recapture the historic influence to show off her finer points.

The rapidity with which the building was erected eclipses anything previously heard of in Adelaide. The Arcade was illuminated throughout by electricity provided by a large engine located around the area that is now Manhattan Drycleaners. Each shop was also fitted with an elegant gas lamp as well. Originally there were three fountains placed along the main walkway and an underground chamber used as tearooms.

The total cost of the building was estimated in 1885 at over 30,000 pounds. A total sum of 60,000 pounds was spent on building Adelaide Arcade, Gays Arcade and Sturt Hotel Arcade. Lighting was taken care of by sixteen lamps of the Seimens patent hung along the centre of the promenade. Two of these were mounted outside the entrances and provided considerable illumination. Electric lighting in Adelaide in 1885 was almost a novelty.