Broadway night-time revival continues
After almost a decade in the doldrums, Broadway Ave is finally back on top in Palmerston North.
Central Economic Development Agency retail figures reveal Broadway snatched the most retail dollars out of any city street, outside The Plaza.
From March to June in 2017, tills on the street rang to the tune of nearly $10 million.
Agency chief executive Linda Stewart dubbed it ‘‘Broadway’s renaissance’’ and said it signalled a significant shift for the street.
‘‘For the first time in a long time, Broadway recorded a higher spend than the Terrace End precinct, which recorded a $9.3m spend. It’s a clear sign to Broadway property owners that there’s sustained growth in Broadway.’’
Broadway Ave used to be the heart of Palmerston North shopping, with a thriving group of retailers, but for a long time it seemed like those days were gone forever.
The economic recession of 2008/9 and the loss of Farmers to The Plaza set off a chain reaction and many longstanding businesses abandoned the street as trade plummeted. A slow recovery began in 2014, but it wasn’t until Broadway’s recent transformation into a hospitality strip that the street really found its feet again.
The Walk in Closet owner Maria Victoria said it was good to see the street so busy again. ‘‘There will always be life in Broadway... You can’t keep a good street down,’’ the accessory shop owner said.
Restaurants and bars, such as Haru Japanese Restaurant or Brew Union, attracted a lot more foot traffic to the street. ’’I leave the lights on in my window at night, because there’s always people milling around.
‘‘They come out of a show at the Regent, or out from [Brew Union] and they look in the windows. Then they come back the next day if they see something they like.’’
Takeaway shop Broadway Express co-owner Shane Simpson said the increase in people over the past year or two had been dramatic and easy to see.
Simpson was cautious about the council’s plans to renovate the main street. He hoped it didn’t involve losing any parking spots. ‘‘If they get rid of the car parks, it will go back to how it was. Nobody wants to have to park up and walk a block to go to a shop or restaurant.’’
In fact, he’d like to see more parking spots for the CBD.
Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith said the Downtown parking building was originally consented for another two levels. So, it would be relatively simple to expand, depending on a business case being put together and the willingness of the mall’s owners.
Smith said the council was working to put together a joint committee with business owners to figure out car park issues and upgrade ideas.
City council planner Keegan Aplin-thane said a $300,000 plan to brighten up Broadway with improved lighting and landscaping was expected to be finished by July 2018. Workers were installing decorative lights and signage at Berrymans Lane last week.