Shore style

Lucy Vincent-Marr sits in the construction site of her new store within 'The Department Store' in Takapuna. Photo / Babiche Martens

Cool kids have always liked to hang out in department stores - visiting Santa, trying tearoom treats, exploring the exotic offerings - now some of Auckland's coolest kids have gone one better by opening their very own emporium.

The Department Store debuts in Takapuna this week, bringing together Karen Walker, Dan Gosling of Black Box and Stephen Marr and Lucy Vincent-Marr. They've called in a few friends to fill three levels of retail and salon space at 10 Northcroft St, just back from the junction of main shopping streets Hurstmere Rd and Lake Rd.

What was once the Takapuna Post Office - a slab of a building with an arresting angular metal grille front - has been transformed by whiz interior designer and stylist Katie Lockhart. Hopes are high locally that it will reinvigorate retail and provide a destination drive for shoppers across Auckland.

Karen Walker has said it will offer three floors of modern luxury. Think Colette in Paris, Dover St Market in London, 10 Corso Como in Milan. Vincent-Marr describes The Department Store as: "A design store that is essentially highly curated in all your fashion, shopping and beauty needs. I'd like to think it will be a really amazing shopping experience that harks back to the department store of old, but with a modern twist."

When Viva took a tour of the building last week, it was still essentially a shell, with a very long Labour Weekend obviously in store for the builders and decorators. The open plan industrial space had yet to be linked by its dramatic spiral glassed-in wrought iron staircase and dressed with high-gloss vintage furniture.

The Department Store's official opening is next month, to allow the ambitious project to bed down, but the founders have already been joined by furniture maker Simon James, who will show his own and imported designs. A pop-up store brings in collectible knick-knacks sourced by Cameron Woodcock for Flotsam & Jetsam, which he established after moving on from Agnes Curran. Presumably he will feel right at home with his treasures next to the store's ground floor Tea Room.

Walker's ranges, including jewellery and eyewear, sit upfront. Gosling, part of the Stolen Girlfriends Club label, brings this and other labels, such as Ksubi, to the venture under the Black Box moniker he operates with former Florida retailer Bryan Eible.

Along one side of the downstairs area is Vincent-Marr's selection of active natural skincare products. From Aesop to her own new Sans range, these will be displayed under the Marr Lab umbrella. Above is Lucy and the Powder Room, after Newmarket the second beauty salon to be housed within a Marr salon.

On the top floor, art gallery owner Michael Lett is holding the first of several rotating shows, with works by Michael Parekowhai and Derek Henderson. The rest of the upstairs houses a sizeable Stephen Marr salon and a library area and the building is WiFi connected.

Vincent-Marr says she has long wanted to open a salon in Takapuna. Karen Walker was also keen to establish on the Shore. Over a haircut they got chatting. Walker's workroom landlord just happened to be Dave Donaldson, of Maidstone Properties, who owns the building. Donaldson, who lives in Takapuna and developed the Beach Cafe, has been working with the North Shore City Council on plans for the area and was keen to entice Walker to Northcroft St.

The women and their husbands, Stephen Marr and Mikhail Gherman, met in April to discuss taking on the ground floor of the building and each couple headed off only to conclude separately that an open plan, more ambitious idea might fly. Gherman came up with the name The Department Store, Gosling joined the project, then Lett and James signed on.

The Marrs, who have more than half the space, say they're in it for the long haul. Walker is similarly optimistic, and told a business publication the recession had offered an "edit" of brands, with consumers still spending on those that delivered.

It won't be too cool for school, "It's not age-specific, it's attitude-driven," says Vincent-Marr.