Smith & Caughey’s closure sparks retail frenzy and nostalgia
Smith & Caughey’s recently announced it would be closing its iconic Queen St store by the end of July, after 145 years in central Auckland.
The store’s “End of an Era Sale” began on Wednesday, attracting lines around the block, frenzied customers and hour-long queues.
After videos of retail chaos spread on social media, the business reminded customers to respect the store and its staff in a social media post.
“It was so packed I couldn’t even see what was available, the clothes were on the floor, and the makeup and skincare sections were insane,” a social media user said.
“The store was like carnage, everything was ripped to pieces,” another person said.
It was the first time ever that me and my Dad were going out on our own as a special event into town.
We jumped in the old orange mini that was our family car and drove all the way from Dairy Flat to Queen street to watch The Empire Strikes Back.
We never went to Queen Street, and I had only seen Muppet Movies before.
The Empire Strikes Back was a paradigm beyond paradigm for my limited cinematic experiences.
Me in my best green sweater. Dad in his only shirt with buttons.
s he walked and I skipped to the St James theatre we passed throngs and crowds of people standing around the Smith and Caughey’s shop front watching a special Empire Strikes Back display they had put up with life sized models of C3-PO and RD-D2 on the Snow Planet Hoth.
I had never seen anything like it.
It was a poor mans Disneyland and it was the best day of my life.
Decades later I was living on Queen street and would take my daughter to the Smith and Caughey’s Santa 5 years and a row.
Each one more magical than the last.
Smith & Caughey’s has been an anchor on Queen Street for as long as I can remember.
Whenever I wanted something special, I’d go there.
It had an old school service and class about it that was charming and cool.
I bought a great mustard jumper there once.
It managed all the kindness and generosity of rich grandparents.
The best days of my life are attached to that place.
It felt like a gut punch hearing that it was closing.
Thank you for the memories.
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CovidCult, AT and the last government’s obsession of housing miscreants in inner city apartments take a bow.
what a crock of shit .They are last centuries retailer who has lost touch with who is their customer .The old ducks that used to shop there are now dead or in an old peoples farm .The people now living in the city center are the under 40s and students .
.. or homeless sleeping on steps and in doorways.
The end of capitalisim is near .Retail is a dying trade and thats why 40% of businesses cant or dont pay tax and are being chased by IRD .Willis needs the money so she will spend more than she collects because they will just close the door or be closed by the court .
Smith & Caughey’s recently announced it would be closing its iconic Queen St store by the end of July, after 145 years in central Auckland.
I have an umbrella celebrating 150 years of our NZ country. I think we’ve gone as far as we can go and are closing down like a concertina! Here’s a song to sing along.
Song – https://genius.com/Lee-dixon-actor-kansas-city-lyrics
USA Kansas City – about 450,000 in 1950s (split between Kansas, and Missouri. Has become known in 20th century for its jazz and some real pizazz.
https://www.visitkc.com/everything-you-need-know-about-kansas-city
Jazz probably means a co-ordinated black population fostered it. If Auckland wants to stop closing down it needs to have a look at the link here for Kansas City promotion. Perhaps start a sister city application and get some USA people with real entrepreneurship not just seeking another off-shore property to add to their briefcase.)
Everything’s up to date in Kansas City.
I got to Kansas City on a Frid’y
By Sattidy I larned a thing or two
‘Cause up to then I didn’t have an idy
Of whut the modren world was comin’ to!
I counted twenty gas buggies goin’ by theirsel’s
Almost ev’ry time I took a walk
‘Nen I put my ear to a Bell Telephone
And a strange womern started in to talk
[GROUP OF MEN 1]
What next?
Yeah what?
[WILL]
What next?
Gather ya ’round!
Ev’rythin’s up to date in Kansas City
They’ve gone about as fur as they c’n go
They went and built a skyscraper seven stories high
About as high as a buildin’ orta grow
Ev’rythin’s like a dream in Kansas City
It’s better than a magic lantern show
Y’ c’n turn thе radiator on whenever you want somе heat
With every kind o’ comfort every house is all complete
You c’n walk to privies in the rain and never wet your feet!
They’ve gone about as fur as they c’n go…
Dah dah burlyque (censored!)
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