Maitland City Council has encouraged mall retailers to sell their wares from the pavement as part of the One Day Demolition Sidewalk Sale.

The sale will be the final event held in the mall before refurbishment work begins.

Johnston’s Shoes owner Michael Johnston said sidewalk sales always brought increased business to his store.

“I like the idea of having the sidewalk sale. We used to run them over the years, probably twice a year,” Mr Johnston said.

“I’m sure if stores have good bargains, it will bring more people.”

Council’s marketing and communications manager Rachel MacLucas said there would be major savings on home wares, clothing, gifts and accessories on Saturday.

Vendors will line the pavement between 9am and 2pm and there will be free face painting, a jumping castle, pony rides, ­balloon sculpting and farm animals on show between 10am and 2pm.

There is no start date for work on The Levee Project, despite council awarding the tender to Sydney company Landscape Solutions on April 1.

The construction contract needs to be signed before it is known which end of the mall will be refurbished first.