Long-standing Avonhead businesses face final days before mall gutted in $25m revamp

Wednesday, 15 July 2026

Christchurch’s Avonhead Shopping Centre is getting a $25 million revamp. (File photo)

Christchurch’s Avonhead Mall will close later this year and be gutted when it undergoes a $25 million rebuild, forcing long-standing businesses to leave.

Some tenants say they have been told they will need to leave before the redevelopment begins, although developer Jaxx says no time frames for tenants have yet been finalised. While some hope to return once the redevelopment is complete, others say they have already been told there will be no place for them.

The redevelopment will see much of the existing mall rebuilt around an expanded Woolworths supermarket, which is expected to occupy about 77% of the centre's footprint, leaving about 800m² for other tenants.

Woolworths declined to say how long the supermarket would be closed during the redevelopment or what would happen to staff while work was under way. A spokesperson said only: “We are working with our landlord on the Avonhead redevelopment, in line with our lease obligations.”

The planned revamp has prompted concern from residents, with more than 100 comments on a local Facebook community page expressing fears it could spell the end for some long-established businesses that have helped make the mall a community hub.

Jaxx director Jack Lourie, whose development firm bought Avonhead Shopping Centre from the Carter family in 2024, said work would begin early next year.

“There’s a lot of prior planning involved, reconfiguring spaces and looking at what we believe is the best mix of tenants for the ever-evolving Avonhead catchment.

Green Stripes owner Terri McFedries has operated a specialist millinery store at Avonhead Mall for 15 years, and currently has 300 custom hats and fascinators for sale.

“We understand the community feel of the Avonhead Centre and that’s something we definitely want to retain while improving the amenities.”

For Green Stripes owner Terri McFedries, the redevelopment could end her 15-year tenancy at Avonhead Mall.

McFedries said she had been told there would be no space for her custom hat and fascinator store in the new development and understood tenants would need to leave by November or December.

This vacant site at Avonhead Mall was once a busy café.

“We’ve only just been told to go… It’s too soon.”

She said she planned to close by the end of November because she believed there would be little reason for customers to visit once neighbouring businesses began leaving.

Although she welcomed investment in the ageing centre, McFedries said the mall “lost its drawcard” and her own sales halved when the café closed several years ago.

Regular customers Sophie Jefferson, right, and James Manera say they visit Avonhead Mall at least twice a week for its sushi, which they describe as “the best sushi in town”.

“People cannot come here to meet for coffee. They go somewhere else.”

She said the strength of Avonhead Mall had always been the relationships between traders and local residents.

“We know the neighbourhood. Sometimes an older lady comes in and says something is a bit too tight, so I’ll help with a few stitches for free. We’re all friendly and many of our customers have been coming for 10 years.”

There will be about 800m² left for other tenants at the shopping centre once Woolworths’ expansion is finished. (Artist’s impression)

Cut & Colour owner Sukyoung Jang, who opened her salon in October, said the investment would benefit the community.

“It’s not a young people’s mall like Riccarton. It’s for local communities and families. We have families travelling from Kaiapoi to us for a haircut.”

The mall’s 10 tenants include a sushi shop operating for more than 25 years, Piccadilly Bookshop, run by Neville and Helen Templeton for more than 30 years, plus a florist and pharmacy. They declined to comment on the rebuild plans.

Regular customers Sophie Jefferson and James Manera said it was those long-standing businesses that kept them returning to the mall.

Manera described the sushi shop as “the best sushi in town” and said the existing Woolworths supermarket was already large enough.

Jefferson said losing the specialty stores would change the character of the centre.

“It’s so upsetting. Otherwise, why do we come here?”

Nearby resident Sammie Tan said while they were hopeful a larger supermarket would bring more competitive prices, the community was more concerned about the “uncertain fate of the small businesses that gave the neighbourhood its heart”.

Cut & Colour salon owner Sukyoung Jang, who opened her salon at Avonhead Mall last October, says investment in the centre is “great news” for the community.

“The biggest frustration right now is the total lack of transparency or certainty.

“It won't feel like a community hub without that diverse range of small, familiar faces.”

Christchurch city councillor Sam MacDonald welcomed the investment but hoped businesses wanting to stay would have the chance to return.

Ilam MP Hamish Campbell said he had heard both support for the redevelopment and concern about the future of long-standing businesses.

“I encourage the owners to engage with the local community and existing tenants. A successful shopping centre that meets the needs of local people is a win for both the owners and the community.”