The Meat Shoppe and Cotton On close Rotorua CBD stores but there's hope

Before closing at the end of March 2021, The Meat Shoppe had been a Rotorua icon for 60 years. Photo / Andrew Warner

An iconic 60-year-old local butchery and international clothing chain are the latest Rotorua businesses to close their doors in the heart of the city's CBD.

But property experts say there is hope as businesses usually based in the suburbs make plans to move to the central city.

The Meat Shoppe has been a mainstay of Tutanekai St for about 60 years, earning several business awards for customer service.

The traditional butchery was known for products made fresh in-store every day until the end of March 2021, when the Rotorua icon shut down its retail front.

Meat Shoppe owner Douglas Crabb said: "Business just got tougher in the CBD after Covid."

"People changed their shopping style, shopped with their calculators instead of just going for what they wanted," he said.

"We were selling more mince than scotch fillets."

But Crabb said Rotorua had not seen the last of the business.

"We'd like to reopen, hopefully sometime in the near future."

For now, The Meat Shoppe will cater for customers as a home-kill and wild game processor.

International retailer Cotton On closed its Rotorua store on Sunday May 2. Photo / Andrew Warner

On Sunday, fashion store Cotton On closed its Eruera St doors.

"As a global business, the opening and closing of stores is nothing unusual for us," a Cotton On Group spokesperson told the Rotorua Daily Post.

"We continue to test and respond to what our customers want, and ensure we're located in the regions where they're choosing to shop."

Cotton On employs 849 people across 106 stores in New Zealand.

When asked how many Rotorua jobs would be lost as a result of the closure, Cotton On did not comment.

The Post Shop and Antique Treasures are other businesses that have closed their CBD premises in the past year.

Professional's McDowell commercial saleswoman Nadia Christensen. Photo / File

Professional's McDowell commercial saleswoman Nadia Christensen said businesses in the CBD have had to learn to adapt.

"It's survival of the fittest out there. People are trying to figure things out, look outside the square, tweak their offerings.

"Some businesses are doing extremely well."

Christensen said she knew a few retailers with plans to move from the suburbs into the CBD.

"Winter is notorious for going into hibernation but there are some forward-thinkers planning for shopping season in spring."

Quentin Mcintosh opened Q Records and Collectables in March 2021. Photo / Andrew Warner

Quentin Mcintosh opened Q Records and Collectables on Hinemoa St in March.

Rotorua Daily Post spoke to McIntosh earlier in the year and he was still making a profit from his passion.

"It's been great," he said.

"Things are ticking along, people know we're here now, and we launched our website last week."

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard said, generally, businesses were "optimistic."

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard. Photo / File

"There's always a bit of churn, that's nothing unusual. People are accepting issues, and making plans to deal with them," he said.

"There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes and that is getting legs.

"So in general we're reasonably happy."

Mark Rendell, from Colliers International, said now was a "good time for tenants and investors to secure spaces in the city."

"As New Zealand opens up to the world, and once we head into summer again our tourism industry will be well-positioned for a kick-start. For those offering sought after goods or services the demand is there."

Rotorua Economic Development interim chief executive Andrew Wilson said while there were some businesses choosing to close their doors "we are also seeing other businesses open".

"This is a reflection of optimism by some, and also highlights a natural cycle of business activity within any CBD where some open and some close," Wilson said.

"Businesses can remain optimistic given the plans being developed to reinvigorate the CBD as part of the Rotorua Lakes Council's economic recovery work including the redevelopment of the Lakefront."

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick. Photo / File

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said ensuring a vibrant, viable CBD was a focus of the council's 2021-31 Long-term Plan.

"Certainly what I've heard from people reaffirms that inner-city living and mixed-use is what people want to see.

"Council is working with key stakeholders to enable and encourage mixed-use that includes residential as well as office, retail, hospitality and accommodation.

"Inner-city living, in particular, will drive different types of offerings and create activity and vibrancy."

Chadwick said the council was working on an incentives policy to enable and drive development into the CBD.