Closing time: Ten retail and hospitality places Auckland has lost this year
Wednesday, 17 July 2024
It has been a year of endings in Auckland’s retail and hospitality scene, with many restaurants, bars, and shops closing their doors for the final time as a troublesome economic climate refuses to offer respite to many.
No business, it seems, has been spared from having to make tough calls on its future, from iconic brand names to old favourites going back decades, many of them names we thought would continue forever.
2024 has been a year where we have had to say a reluctant goodbye to dozens of places that have provided us with laughs, enjoyment, a bargain, and plenty more over the years.
The simple fact is there are too many places that have closed to list here, but here are ten we will remember fondly.
Army and Outdoors
It was one of New Zealand’s last army surplus stores. Army and Outdoors had provided military-quality stock to everyone from collectors to enthusiastic dress-up partygoers on Karangahape Road for 20 years.
In March it closed its doors for the final time, moving online only, with owner Jason Robinson blaming a decline in retail post-Covid.
Conch Kitchen and Bar
The Latin Caribbean-inspired bar and restaurant Conch had been serving up a dose of soul food and music to regulars on Ponsonby Road for over 25 years, before closing in March.
Its pop-up record sales, as well as the regular presence of some of the best DJs in Auckland, made it one of the go-to spots in Ponsonby since the late-90s.
Flotsam & Jetsam
In a move becoming more common for retailers, antiques store Flotsam & Jetsam closed their Ponsonby store in April after nearly 13 years to move online only.
Co-owner Cameron Woodcock said the move online was due to people’s spending habits changing, with Woodcock saying people were no longer buying as much.
Harvest by Huckleberry Grey Lynn
Originally known as Harvest Wholefoods, this Grey Lynn organic food store had been serving customers in the West Lynn shops since the early 1990s.
The company behind the store, Huckleberry, went into liquidation in May and decided to close its three Auckland stores, including the iconic Grey Lynn store, ending an era going back three decades.
Homeland
Peter Gordon closed his downtown restaurant and cooking school Homeland in April, citing difficulties renewing its lease.
The chef opened Homeland in 2020, but ran into difficulties when the site in Wynyard Quarter was sold to a developer. Gordon said he was unsuccessful in trying to find another site for the restaurant.
Kate Sylvester
In April, fashion designer Kate Sylvester, who has dressed among others Jacinda Ardern, announced she intends to close her business after 31 years in mid-2025.
Sylvester is preparing to wind down operations, including her three Auckland stores, saying she had done what she set out to do and that it was time to move on.
Roxy
Nightclub Roxy had become a fixture in Auckland’s nightlife scene for more than 12 years, however in February, it closed its doors for good.
Located on Fort Lane in the CBD, the popular club went into liquidation, with a post on Instagram blaming tough trading conditions and the lasting impact of Covid-19.
Smith & Caughey
In May, department store Smith & Caughey’s announced their intention to close after 144 years serving customers on Queen Street.
On making the announcement, chairperson Tony Caughey said they would be consulting with staff about the proposal to close, saying the changing retail landscape had led to a 40% decline in the store’s revenue.
SPQR
It is one of the most iconic eateries on Ponsonby Road, however, SPQR announced just last week that they were closing down after a whopping 32 years, in what was one of the biggest hospitality closures of the year so far.
The news was met with an outpouring of memories from regulars over its three decades, and in a statement, owner Chris Rupe said he appreciated the support the restaurant had received.
Wine Cellar
It has been serving the Auckland music scene for 20 years from its basement base in St Kevin’s Arcade on Karangahape Road, but come August, the Wine Cellar will be closed for good.
The venue and bar will host its final show on August 3, before it, and its neighbouring venue Whammy Backroom, are transformed into a new and larger venue called Double Whammy.