CARAVAN & CO WAVES GOODBYE TO LEVIN MALL LOCATION
The end to the Caravan & Co tenancy in the heart of Levin Mall has come sooner than expected, as the team found out recently that their month to month lease would not be extended and the last day in the shop would be Saturday 13th January.
The change of premises, originally scheduled for the 30th December, has been pushed back two weeks which will give Caravan & Co time to wind down after the busy Christmas trading period. Caravan & Co have also extended their opening hours to 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm Saturday until Saturday 13th January. “Levin Mall management have always been amazing,” says Emily Griffin, owner, mentioning that the team there went out of their way to look at alternatives and even arrange storage space. “Unfortunately it’s just the nature of month to month rentals, as we were on a pop-up monthly tenancy.”
For a retail brand that grew out of festivals and markets, it’s the sort of event that the team have become accustomed to and have learned to plan around. Although it’s a sad moment, Emily has arranged things in such a way that any impact on staff hours will be minimal. Because Caravan & Co had to reduce hours at their Ōtaki location in order to open full time at Levin, it gives them lots of scope to move hours between one store and the other.
The news is likely to come as a blow for local customers though, who have embraced the brand since its arrival in Levin Mall in August. “Levin has been the most supportive market out of them all,”
says Emily. “I think there have been so many meaningful connections that we’ve had in the shop. They have meant a lot to us all.”
Upon opening, one customer even mentioned to her that “[w]e’ve been waiting for something like this for years in Levin.”
Caravan & Co are currently looking for new premises in Levin to move into and is hoping something will fall into place during the busy summer season. “I don’t think I’ll lose (connection with Levin).” When asked about what makes Levin so unique as a retail location, she replies “I guess we’ve got more time … when compared with Wellington where it is just in and out.”
Caravan & Co’s opening hours have been extended to 10am to 4pm Monday to
Friday and 10am to 2pm Saturday until
Saturday 13th January.