Lynnmall's $4m facelift lets it stay in step with the rest

Lynnmall is owned by AMP Henderson Global Investors, which is spending $4 million rearranging shops there.

The existing Farmers is being upgraded and the Deka store is being converted into Farmers, selling larger-item furniture, electronics and appliances.

Two years ago, AMP spent $60 million doing up Lynnmall, strengthening its retail investment. A western wing and 40 new shops were added, bringing the centre up to 30,000 sq m, only slightly smaller than Auckland's largest mall, the Westfield-owned St Lukes.

Lynnmall is now more than three times as large as it was on opening day in 1963.

The publicists for the centre claim the property recorded many "firsts" - the first mall to be air-conditioned in 1987, first to introduce Sunday trading in 1991 and first centre to become smoke free in 1994.

In May 1991, Lynnmall certainly led the way in trading seven days a week, beating mall management at Manukau City and St Lukes, who were reported to be "still thinking about it".

AMP, Lynnmall's owner, also owns the new $180 million Botany Town Centre in Manukau City.

Today, AMP says Lynnmall still leads the way, able to be reformed and revamped to stay in step with much larger malls.

AMP