Just before 3pm, two groups of young males were embroiled in a fight in the food court of Westfield Marion.
Some of them are believed to have been carrying weapons.
Police said the brawl was not believed to be random.
The shopping centre went into lockdown, with shoppers and bystanders urged to evacuate.
“Everyone was running for their lives,” shopper Janet Raphael said.
Police could not initially find the people involved in the fight but escorted several shoppers to safety.
Those inside shops were kept there for multiple hours as officers told them they were hunting the offenders.
“My partner and I were in David Jones near the jewellery section and we heard someone over Westfield (speakers) say ‘this in an emergency’,” another shopper told 9News Adelaide.
“Next minute the David Jones security doors went down.”
It is understood two shoppers were injured during the evacuation, including a 77-year-old woman who fell and suffered a fracture, along with a teenager girl.
This morning, police announced the arrest of two boys, aged 15 and 16, who were charged with assault, affray, and aggravated robbery.
Police seized two expandable batons.
The teens will face court later today.
The investigation is ongoing. Shops at the Westfield are scheduled to open as normal today.