Long-running Nelson specialty food shop and café closes after 19 years

Friday, 26 June 2026

A long-running Nelson cafe and specialty food store has been overwhelmed by an outpouring of support after announcing it will close its doors after 19 years.

The owners cited a combination of economic pressures, rising costs and the impact of roadworks near the business for its closure.

Owners of Prego Mediterranian Foods and Comida Cafe say they have been inundated with flowers, tears and well-wishers since revealing the business had entered liquidation.

“I have so many flowers I can open up a florist, really,” co-owner Claudia Kern said. “And I did not expect that.”

The Collingwood St business announced its closure on its website this week, saying Thursday would be its final day of trading. They described the decision as one made with “profound sadness”.

Founded in 2006, it had become a fixture of Nelson's food scene, combining a Mediterranean-inspired deli and specialty food store with a popular cafe.

For Kern, the most difficult part of the closure was informing their eight staff members.

“It was the hardest thing we had to do, basically tell them from one day to the next, I'm sorry, you have no job tomorrow.”

In a farewell message, owners Mac McNairney and Kern apologised to customers and suppliers, saying they “deserved a better ending than this”.

“To every member of our team — who gave their energy, skill and heart to this business: we are sorry that we could not find another way.”

Its website states the business went into liquidation on June 23, and a sign in the window says creditors would be contacted by the liquidator.

“Since Covid, every year, we've been thinking, oh yeah, it’s gonna get better, and then next year there was something else, and then next year,” Kern said.

“You can probably talk to any business in Nelson. Nobody’s got reserves since Covid.”

Roadworks associated with the Bridge to Better development outside the business’ Buxton car park entrance in late 2025 came at a particularly difficult time.

“We had that building site for three months — a six-foot fence basically right outside our door.

“Pretty much the entire length of this building. People couldn't even see that there was a business there.”

The works coincided with the lead-up to the holiday season, when business was usually generated by the Nelson Arts Festival, Christmas functions and end-of-year events, while retail sales were affected during the key festive shopping period.

The owners estimated the business lost between $40,000 and $60,000 in revenue during an eight-week period.

Kern said she did not blame council for carrying out the work.

“I understand that it needs doing,” she said. “But I don't know that we really need to have it done all at the same time.”

Many customers, particularly older people, had stopped coming into the city centre because of traffic changes, roadworks and uncertainty around parking, she said.

They had hoped trading conditions would improve in 2026, but rising freight costs and ongoing economic uncertainty continued to put pressure on both prices and consumer spending.

The day after announcing the closure, Kern said the shop was inundated with customers.

“People wanted to talk. They have their own grief. People cried… it's taken me by surprise a little bit.”

She was particularly concerned about some of the business's older regulars.

“My biggest concern is for our staff, and especially some of my older customers, because they came here because it was a safe, comfortable place for them to come. There was always someone who they could chat to.”

She said they didn’t “set out” to develop an establishment like that.

“But that's the sort of place it turned into.”