New retail space to ‘light up’ street
A number of businesses have left a central Blenheim street, but a real estate agent is confident a refurbished building will give it a new lease of life.
Three businesses, Trade My Craft, Michel Hair Design and Moi Thai Massage, left a Queen St building forming part of the Queen St Mall following the earthquake.
The next door building was pulled down after it was deemed structurally unsound following the disaster, causing the street to be cordoned off for more than a month.
Anita’s Organic Store was forced to move out. A store further down the road, Boots ‘n’ All, also moved out, leaving another vacant building to rent on the street.
Trade My Craft owner Sandy James, who is now operating out of her home, said it would be nice to set up another shop in town, but felt it was too expensive.
‘‘I do think it’s a shame, because the street was getting quite busy, but if you go down there now it’s very quiet - it’s just dead now,’’ she said.
Mark Stevenson First National commercial real estate Geoff Dentice said once tenants moved into the building further down the road on the Arthur St corner it would help revitalise the area.
The building had been empty for about 18 months as it underwent earthquake strengthening and a general refurbishment, which was due for completion up this week.
The first floor was leased out about a month ago for use as office space, however Dentice said he could not divulge who the tenants were, only that they would be moving in soon.
Downstairs, there were four separate retail spaces, a 212-square metre space on Queen St, a 149-square metre corner space, and 58sqm and 64sqm spaces on Arthur St.
Dentice said there were three parties looking at the corner site, so he expected to lock in a contract soon; there was also strong interest in the larger Arthur St space, he said.
A number of companies were also looking at the largest space, where Alyssum used to be, however Dentice said nothing had been confirmed.
‘‘There are other sites available in Blenheim, but they’re all inferior to this because these are almost brand new,’’ he said.
‘‘As soon as we get that full, it’ll light up that whole corner - and it’ll be terrific.’’
Harcourts Marlborough sales consultant Ross Ayson, who was leasing the three Queen St Mall sites, said he was waiting on a valuation to help determine rents. As well as the three shops, the Avalon Jewellers site on the Market St side of the walk through mall was also coming up for lease, Ayson said.