145 years of history… and almost no one is talking about it: this iconic building is about to vanish

For many Aucklanders, it’s not just a store.
It’s where they bought their first fragrance.
Where grandparents took them to see Santa.
Where generations marked milestones — quietly, meaningfully.

But now, the grand doors are closing. And most people have no idea.

A silent farewell to a local legend

Tucked in the heart of Queen Street, a department store that stood tall for 145 years is preparing to shut down.
The news came quietly, almost discreetly — no dramatic headlines, no public outcry.
Yet, for thousands, it feels like a part of Auckland is slipping away.

“I thought it would outlive me,” says Karen R., a 62-year-old local. “It was always there. Always elegant. Always ours.”

The building itself is a heritage treasure — with ornate windows, grand staircases, and an atmosphere that felt more like a museum than a shop.
In an age of click-and-collect and fast fashion, it held onto charm, service, and tradition.

But charm doesn’t pay the bills.
After years of shifting shopping habits, rising rents, and economic pressure, the end was inevitable.

What happens next?

Few details have been made public about the building’s future.
Will it become luxury apartments? An office space? Another soulless franchise?

One thing is certain: the legacy cannot be replaced.

Here’s what made this place special:

• An iconic Christmas display that drew families from all over the city
• A perfume hall unlike any other in New Zealand
• Staff with decades of service, some working there since the 1970s
• The last true “department store experience” in Auckland

“It was the only place my mum trusted for linens and gloves,” says David T., 45. “Even after she passed, I kept going there. Out of respect.”

A city forgetting its own story?

In a fast-changing city, the loss of such landmarks raises a question:

What kind of Auckland do we want to live in?

One filled with glass towers and chain stores — or one that remembers its past, values character, and preserves memory?

For now, many pass by the windows without a glance, unaware that soon, it’ll all be gone.

But for those who know, who remember, who care — this is more than a store.
It’s a goodbye to a certain way of life.