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Smith & Caughey's announces closure of Queen Street and online stores
- Smith & Caughey's announced it will close its Queen Street store by July 31, 2025, and its online store on May 30, 2025, ending 145 years of trading in Auckland, New Zealand.
- The closure follows a period of declining foot traffic due to economic challenges, competition from new malls, increased parking costs, roadworks, and ongoing remote work after Covid-19.
- The company downsized its CBD location to one floor and permanently shut down its Newmarket branch during the previous year in response to changing retail market conditions.
- Acting CEO Matt Harray described the decision as a "heartbreaking decision" and said 98 staff will be made redundant, acknowledging the announcement is "deeply emotional" for staff, suppliers, and customers.
- Smith & Caughey's final sale will launch soon, marking the end of an era, and the closure highlights the ongoing challenges faced by traditional retail in Auckland’s changing city center.
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Smith & Caughey’s to close after 145 years in business
Image – smithandcaugheys.co.nz Auckland department store Smith & Caughey’s will permanently close its Queen Street and online stores, ending 145 years of operation, with 98 staff facing redundancy. The company cited a combination of factors including increased competition from new malls, economic uncertainty, low consumer spending, and a post-Covid shift to remote work. Disruptions from ongoing roadworks, the slow City Rail Link development, ris…
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