‘Deeply saddened’: Last Little and Friday store closes its doors
Friday, 9 May 2025
The last Little and Friday store has closed its doors, ending a 20-year era.
The Ponsonby store closure followed the closures of stores in Takapuna and Newmarket.
Owner Kim Evans said she was “deeply saddened” at having to close down.
It is the end of an era for Auckland hospitality with the closure of the last Little and Friday store.
Kim Evans had owned and operated three Little and Friday cafés across the city for 20 years, but all of them have now closed for good.
Evans closed her Newmarket store in 2024, and in March told The Post she had to close the doors of her Takapuna store after running into issues with her landlord, adding that the Ponsonby store might follow.
Two months later, for lease signs now adorn the shop frontage on Ponsonby Road, with Evans telling Stuff she has begun liquidating the last of her stores.
“I am deeply saddened to share that after many years of trying to soldier through Little and Friday has now joined the long list of hospitality businesses closing their doors,” she said.
“We are now entering the liquidation process. A huge thanks to all those who have supported me through this difficult time.”
Evans told The Post in March she had already had to let go her Ponsonby staff and was working seven days a week, starting at 4am, to keep the shop running.
“That’s what I’ve been doing to save the business because the turnover has dropped so much in this last period, it’s not sustainable any more. I’m done. I’m toast … it’s kind of surreal,” she said.
Evans blamed tough trading conditions in hospitality for the closure of her business, but also pointed to a heavy-handed approach from her landlord at the Takapuna address.
Landlord Elliot Knight said Evans was nearly a year behind in rent, so trespassed her.
A note posted in the shop window read, “take notice that Make Takapuna Great Again LP has taken possession of these premises as you have no right to occupy”.
It continued, “Notwithstanding the above, the owner reserves all rights and remedies whatsoever against you … you are warned to stay off these premises.”
As reported by The Post, the notice also threatened Evans with three months’ imprisonment and a $1000 fine should she return to collect her possessions.
According to Knight, Evans owed about $55,000. He said he had “tried to work with her”, encouraging her to go to market and have the lease re-assigned to a new operator.
Evans said she knew she had been in trouble for some time, but when she tried to end the Takapuna lease a year ago, Knight wouldn’t budge.
“He’s just a businessman and he’s got to look after his assets,” she said.
The Little and Friday website says new online ordering options are coming soon.
At their height, Evans’ three stores employed 70 staff and turned over $5 million a year.
Recently, though, it has been a tough time for the hospitality sector in Auckland, with Ponsonby in particular seeing multiple closures.
In 2024, SPQR closed after over 30 years, while Ponsonby Bistro is preparing to close its doors this month after 18 years.