The Palms Shopping Centre

The Palms Shopping Centre is a shopping mall in Shirley, approximately four kilometres from Christchurch's central business district. It serves the surrounding eastern Christchurch suburbs and is one of the city's established large-format retail destinations. The centre combines supermarket, department-store, discount-store, pharmacy, cinema, food, service and specialty retail uses under a single mall brand. The centre originated as a 1990s development by Christchurch brothers Max and Glen Percasky, who were also associated with the Homebase shopping centre north of The Palms. The available reference material does not establish an exact opening year, but identifies the original development as taking place during the 1990s. The property was substantially expanded and upgraded in a project completed in 2003. That NZ$50 million redevelopment nearly doubled the centre's size to approximately 35,343 square metres. The renewed entry plaza subsequently received an NZILA Silver award for landscape design in 2004. The Palms' tenant mix has included major national and international retail brands. The centre's principal anchors have included Woolworths, formerly operating under the Countdown name, Farmers, Reading Cinemas and Chemist Warehouse. The centre was also associated with Kmart for 23 years before the retailer closed its store there. The reference material describes the mall as having approximately 82 retailers, although tenant numbers and individual occupancies can change over time. Ownership changed in 2007, when Australian-based AMP Capital acquired the property from Christchurch businessmen Tim Glasson and Warren Bell. Glasson and Bell were directors associated with Hallenstein Glassons. AMP Capital held the centre for many years before the property was purchased by Australian investor DiMauro Group for NZ$88.8 million in 2022. The available sources do not identify a separate operating company, current managing director or other named executive for the shopping-centre brand. The Palms is best understood as a destination and property brand rather than as a manufacturer or standalone retail chain. Its value proposition is based on convenience, a broad tenant assortment, access to major anchor stores and entertainment, and proximity to Christchurch's residential eastern suburbs. Its commercial identity is therefore shaped by the quality and stability of its tenant mix, the physical condition of the mall, ownership decisions and the changing retail environment. It remains an active shopping-centre destination, while specific tenants, store formats and ownership arrangements may evolve.

The Palms Shopping Centre is located in Shirley, Christchurch, around four kilometres from the city's central business district. It was developed during the 1990s by Christchurch brothers Max and Glen Percasky, who were also connected with the Homebase shopping centre north of The Palms. The available source material does not provide a precise opening year or a detailed account of the centre's earliest tenant lineup. A major expansion and refurbishment was completed in 2003. The project cost NZ$50 million and nearly doubled the mall's floor area, bringing it to approximately 35,343 square metres. The redevelopment strengthened The Palms as a substantial suburban retail and leisure destination rather than a small local shopping strip. Its new entry plaza was recognised with an NZILA Silver award for landscape design in 2004, indicating that the redevelopment included a notable architectural and public-realm component. The centre has accommodated a broad mix of approximately 82 retailers. Its reported anchor tenants have included Woolworths, previously known as Countdown, Farmers, Reading Cinemas and Chemist Warehouse. Reading Cinemas was the first multiplex operated by that company in Christchurch. The centre has also hosted Kmart, which later closed its store after 23 years. These changes illustrate the evolving nature of the tenant mix, although the available references do not provide a complete chronology of individual openings, relocations or closures. In 2007, Australian-based AMP Capital bought The Palms from Christchurch businessmen Tim Glasson and Warren Bell. Glasson and Bell were directors associated with Hallenstein Glassons. AMP Capital's ownership continued until 2022, when Australian investor DiMauro Group purchased the shopping centre for NZ$88.8 million. The transaction was a significant ownership change for the property, but the available material does not state whether it altered the centre's branding, management structure or tenant strategy. The Palms operates as a commercial property and consumer destination. Its brand is expressed through the physical mall, the tenant portfolio, the entrance and common areas, and the convenience it provides to Christchurch's eastern suburbs. Unlike a conventional product brand, it does not manufacture a single category of goods. Instead, its offer is assembled from grocery, department-store, pharmacy, discount, fashion, entertainment, food and service tenants. The centre remains active, but current ownership details beyond DiMauro Group, current executives, exact tenant count and a complete post-2022 development history are not established by the supplied references.

• 2022

  DiMauro Group acquires The Palms

  [1]The Palms Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  DiMauro Group purchased the shopping centre for NZ$88.8 million.

• 2007

  AMP Capital acquires the centre

  [1]The Palms Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Australian-based AMP Capital purchased The Palms from Christchurch businessmen Tim Glasson and Warren Bell.

• 2004

  Entry plaza receives NZILA Silver award

  [1]The Palms Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The centre's entry plaza won an NZILA Silver award for landscape design.

• 2003

  NZ$50 million expansion completed

  [1]The Palms Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A major upgrade was completed, nearly doubling the mall's area to approximately 35,343 square metres.

• 1990

  Original development period

  [1]The Palms Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Palms was originally developed during the 1990s by Christchurch brothers Max and Glen Percasky. The supplied source does not establish a more precise year.

A major suburban Christchurch shopping destination combining everyday convenience retail, department-store shopping, large-format stores, specialty tenants and cinema entertainment.

• Supermarket anchor

  Woolworths

  Woolworths is one of the reported supermarket anchors at The Palms. The store previously operated under the Countdown name, reflecting the rebranding of the New Zealand supermarket business. Its role is to provide recurring grocery and household shopping traffic and to support the centre's everyday-convenience proposition.

• Department store anchor

  Farmers

  Farmers is a department-store anchor at The Palms. Its broad merchandise range complements the centre's supermarket, specialty and service tenants, helping position the mall as a general shopping destination rather than a single-purpose convenience centre.

• Cinema and entertainment

  Reading Cinemas

  Reading Cinemas operates a multiplex associated with The Palms and was identified as the first Reading Cinemas multiplex in Christchurch. The cinema adds evening and leisure traffic, broadening the centre's offer beyond retail and contributing to its destination positioning.

• Pharmacy and health retail

  Chemist Warehouse

  Chemist Warehouse is a reported anchor or major tenant at The Palms, supplying pharmacy, health, beauty and related consumer products. Its discount-led format complements the centre's everyday-needs retail mix.

• Discount department store

  Kmart

  Kmart operated at The Palms for 23 years before closing its store. The available source confirms the long tenancy and closure but does not provide the opening or closing dates or explain the reasons for the departure.

• 2022

  Sale to DiMauro GroupM&A

  Background

  After AMP Capital's ownership period, The Palms was offered in an ownership transaction involving an Australian investor.

  Action taken

  DiMauro Group acquired the shopping centre for NZ$88.8 million.

  Aftermath

  DiMauro Group became the reported owner. The supplied references do not describe changes to the mall's branding, management or tenant strategy after the acquisition.

  Acquisition price. NZ$88.8 million (2022)

  Source

• 2003

  Major expansion and refurbishmentStrategy

  Background

  The centre required a substantial redevelopment to increase its scale and strengthen its role as a major suburban destination.

  Action taken

  A NZ$50 million upgrade was completed, nearly doubling the mall's size to approximately 35,343 square metres.

  Aftermath

  The expanded centre gained a larger retail footprint and an award-winning entry plaza, while the available sources do not quantify subsequent trading or visitor effects.

  Redevelopment cost. NZ$50 million (2003)

  Source

1. 1The Palms Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Palms Shopping Centre official websitethepalms.co.nz