Australian-owned clothing company Cotton On is making a big vote of confidence in the Whangarei CBD, taking the lease on the James St premises which used to house the long-defunct Food Hall in the cinema complex.
Building owner Richard Langdon said the Cotton On Group signed up for the whole 500sq m space late last month and would open before summer following refurbishment and fit-out.
The real estate consultant who negotiated the agreement, John Haselden of L J Hooker, said he believed it was the biggest retail "let" in the city for the past 12 months, indicating there was "plenty of fight in the CBD despite testing times".
Northland Chamber of Commerce CEO Tony Collins said the arrival of a new business in James St would help reinforce that part of the CBD, which had the potential to be an important location for further retail development.
The Cotton On Group began in Geelong in Victoria 19 years ago with a single store. There are now over 600 stores and 4500 employees selling underwear, sleepwear and activewear, the Rubi shoe line, children's fashion through the Cotton On Kids range and the Type brand gifts and stationery.
The company has stores around Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the United States. A store opened in China last month, while its six New Zealand stores are in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, New Plymouth, Napier and Hamilton.
The company bills itself as "a retail powerhouse renowned for its winning combination of globally relevant fashion at affordable prices".
Richard Langdon, founder/owner of the Rebel Surf and MegaSurf in Whangarei, said the current retail environment was the toughest he had seen in all his years in retail but the arrival of Cotton On was "very positive" for the city with the potential to increase foot traffic to the Cameron St Mall.
He said upgraded new access to the cinemas a few metres down the street would replace the former route through the old food hall area, and was nearing completion.
Company puts faith in CBD with lease
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