Owner Skyline Enterprises plans to embark on a $26 million redevelopment of the tired-looking mall, on the corner of Queenstown’s Camp and Beach Sts, on February 17.
It opened in 1988 as the resort’s first major shopping centre.
While several of its 30-odd tenants have already gone, those remaining can keep trading until February 2, but must move out by February 14.
The mall’s longest-running tenant, Nicole Bainbridge, has operated Yaks n Yetis with husband Tim for the past 27 years.
They will keep trading from their main store, and a pop-up outlet on the ground floor, until the deadline.
They would reassess their options when they returned from their annual buying trip in August, Mrs Bainbridge said.
They were in no rush to relocate because they also operated stores in Dunedin and Invercargill, but preferred to stay in the CBD.
FridgeFreezerIcebox shoe store owner Paul Garvie said he already operated Frontrunner and Issimo Shoes in the CBD, and opened a new store at Queenstown Central a year ago, so was not looking for another CBD outlet at the moment.
But he did not rule out returning to the revamped mall, even if rents were hiked.
‘‘As long as it brings more foot traffic, it could be worth it.’’
Elysium Beauty Therapy owner Lydia McCarthy said she would move into larger premises, incorporating a hair salon, on the first floor of neighbouring Stratton House early next month.
Moving in next door to her is Watch Repairs Now owner Roger Healy, who said he would close his premises of the past 10 years on February 2, and reopen two days later ‘‘all going well’’.
He did not consider moving out of the town centre.
‘‘If you get the right spot it’s quite reasonable, and it’s good for our customers for us to stay in the central area.’’
McDonald’s Queenstown owner Sarah Lucas would say only she was ‘‘currently assessing our options within Queenstown CBD’’.
The upgrade will include a new-look exterior and modifications to the four floors, while the ground-floor food court and mix of retail and commercial spaces would be retained.
Queenstown Chamber of Commerce chief executive Anna Mickell said the revamped mall was likely to have a different mix of tenants and some of the current crop would inevitably move out to Frankton.
But it was in Skyline’s interests to ensure they had an ‘‘engaging bunch of tenants who can afford to be there’’.
As for the gradual exodus of businesses that catered for locals from the CBD into Frankton, that was a national trend, Mrs Mickell said.
‘‘That’s the changing face of retail, and we’re seeing it in Queenstown markedly because our rents are so expensive.
‘‘But I don’t think that’s any different to Ashburton, Kaikohe or Dargaville.’’
Skyline Enterprises boss Geoff McDonald could not be reached for comment this week, but told Mountain Scene last May the mall was expected to reopen at the end of next year.
