The Palms Shopping Centre in Christchurch is facing a wave of closures, with several long-standing businesses packing up and leaving the mall. The latest casualties include Jay Jays, Choco Berries, and Pita Pit, joining a growing list of former tenants that includes Amazon Surf, Stirling Sports, Cafe Bean & Co, The Oasis Virtual Reality and Entertainment Centre, Kmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Life Pharmacy, Jaba Grill and Bar, and Perfect Plate. The mall's struggles are evident, with 12 vacant shops during a recent visit, and a retailer anonymously describing the centre as 'dying by a thousand cuts'.
However, amidst this gloom, some local favourites continue to thrive. Cocopelli and Coffee Culture, for instance, remain busy and popular with locals. Cocopelli's success, according to Managing Director Jeanette Francis, is rooted in a strong team culture and loyal customers. Francis emphasizes the importance of consistency, treating staff well, and maintaining low staff turnover, which ensures a consistent food and service experience.
Coffee Culture's Manager, Jacinda Jackson, also attributes their success to a community-centric approach. The cafe offers a wide variety of food at different price points and has built a loyal customer base over the years. Easy parking is another drawcard, particularly for tradies in the mornings.
The mall's original developers, Christchurch brothers Max and Glen Percasky, continue to expand Homebase, their other major retail project, with new eateries, large-format retailers, and plans for a supermarket. This expansion may help to revitalize the area and provide a much-needed boost to the struggling mall.
Despite the closures and challenges, the Palms Shopping Centre remains an important part of the local community, according to Savills Australia and New Zealand Communications Manager Elizabeth Easton. Easton expresses confidence in the centre's future, emphasizing the importance of evolving the retail offering to meet the needs of customers.
The mall's future remains uncertain, but with the addition of a new One NZ store and the continued expansion of Homebase, there may be reasons for optimism. The challenge for the centre will be to attract new businesses and customers, and to create a vibrant and engaging shopping experience that will entice people back.
