Westfield Riccarton

Westfield Riccarton is a large shopping centre in the Riccarton suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. Previously known as Riccarton Mall, it opened to shoppers on 3 November 1965 after construction began earlier that year. The centre is regarded as Christchurch's oldest shopping mall and has undergone several major expansions and refurbishments during its operating history. The original complex covered approximately 67,000 square feet and contained 20 retailers. Its initial anchor tenants included the Farmers supermarket and department store, a Four Square–New World supermarket, and McKenzie's department store. The centre expanded in the 1970s as additional retail space and supermarket capacity were added. A 1970 extension introduced Calder Mackay & Co. as another anchor tenant, while further New World expansion and additional stores followed in 1974. A larger 1979 development increased the complex to approximately 19,070 square metres and added Smiths City Market and a number of smaller retailers. A substantial remodelling in 1992 reorganised much of the mall, added a food court, and introduced a rooftop car park. Farmers was among the few major tenants to remain in its original position. The centre then entered the Westfield era when the Westfield Group began a redevelopment programme in 2003. Completed in 2005 at a reported cost of approximately NZD 90 million, the project increased the leisure and entertainment component of the property. It introduced a six-screen Hoyts cinema complex, including a particularly large projection screen, together with restaurant and café facilities at the Rotherham Street end. A further expansion opened in stages from 2009. The first stage included a four-level car park building with capacity for about 400 vehicles, completed in January 2009. The principal retail phase opened on 28 May 2009 and added roughly 40 retailers, a new café court and another Hoyts cinema screen. The redevelopment brought the centre to approximately 54,000 square metres. Westfield Riccarton combines department-store, supermarket, discount, fashion, electronics, pharmacy, sporting-goods, food-and-beverage and entertainment uses. Its principal anchors and major tenants have included Farmers, Kmart, H&M, Pak'nSave, Rebel Sport, Chemist Warehouse, JB Hi-Fi and Hoyts. The property serves Riccarton and the wider Christchurch metropolitan area, with a tenant mix aimed at both everyday shopping and destination visits. It remains operated under the Westfield brand within Scentre Group's New Zealand portfolio.

Construction of Riccarton Mall began in February 1965 in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton. The centre was formally opened by John McAlpine, the Member of Parliament for Selwyn and Minister of Transport, on 2 November 1965, and admitted shoppers the next day. Its initial footprint was approximately 67,000 square feet, with construction reported at a cost of £525,000. The opening centre contained 20 retailers and was organised around three principal anchors: the Farmers supermarket and department store, a Four Square–New World supermarket, and McKenzie's department store. The property expanded repeatedly during the 1970s. A 20,000-square-foot extension opened in November 1970 and added Calder Mackay & Co. as a fourth anchor. Calder Mackay had recently been acquired by the Farmers Trading Company of Auckland. In July 1974, the centre added a new 20,000-square-foot New World supermarket. Two months later, another 10,000 square feet of retail space opened with four additional stores. These projects increased the complex to approximately 123,000 square feet. A third major extension was completed in November 1979. It expanded the mall to about 19,070 square metres and added 12 stores, including a 460-square-metre Smiths City Market. The centre then contained approximately 50 stores, giving it a substantial role in Christchurch's suburban retail network. Riccarton Mall was extensively remodelled in 1992. Many businesses moved into redesigned premises, while Farmers was one of the few significant tenants to remain in its original location. The project introduced a food court and a rooftop car park, updating the centre's layout and broadening its customer amenities. The Westfield Group began a major redevelopment in 2003. Completed in 2005, the approximately NZD 90 million project placed particular emphasis on leisure and entertainment. A six-screen Hoyts multiplex was introduced, including a notably large projection screen, and a restaurant and café area was built near the Rotherham Street end of the mall. These changes shifted the centre from a primarily retail complex toward a combined shopping, dining and entertainment destination. Another large expansion was delivered in stages from 2009. A four-level car park with room for about 400 vehicles was completed in January. The first major retail stage opened on 28 May and added approximately 40 retailers, a new café court and a further Hoyts cinema screen. After the project, the centre measured approximately 54,000 square metres. The property is now known as Westfield Riccarton and is associated with Scentre Group's Westfield operations in New Zealand. Its current anchor and major tenant mix includes Farmers, Kmart, H&M, Pak'nSave, Rebel Sport, Chemist Warehouse, JB Hi-Fi and Hoyts. The centre continues to function as a major retail and entertainment destination for Riccarton and the wider Christchurch area.

• 2009

  Latest major expansion opened

  [1]Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org

  A new car park and a retail expansion adding around 40 retailers, a café court and another cinema screen brought the complex to roughly 54,000 square metres.

• 2005

  Entertainment-focused redevelopment completed

  [1]Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org

  The redevelopment introduced a six-screen Hoyts cinema complex and expanded restaurant and café facilities.

• 2003

  Westfield redevelopment began

  [1]Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org

  The Westfield Group commenced a major redevelopment programme focused on retail, dining and entertainment.

• 1992

  Comprehensive remodelling

  [1]Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org

  The centre was reorganised with a food court and rooftop car park, while many stores moved into redesigned premises.

• 1979

  Third major extension completed

  [1]Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org

  The mall grew to approximately 19,070 square metres and added Smiths City Market and 12 other stores.

• 1974

  Supermarket and retail-space expansion

  [1]Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org

  A new New World supermarket and a subsequent four-store extension increased the centre's total floor area.

• 1970

  First major extension added

  [1]Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org

  A 20,000-square-foot extension opened and added Calder Mackay & Co. as a fourth anchor tenant.

• 1965

  Riccarton Mall opened

  [1]Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org

  The centre was officially opened on 2 November and began serving shoppers on 3 November, with 20 retailers and three principal anchor tenants.

A large, established regional shopping and entertainment centre serving Christchurch, combining essential retail, department stores, supermarkets, fashion, dining and cinema facilities.

• Retail property · 1965

  Retail and department-store space

  Westfield Riccarton provides a broad collection of retail premises anchored by department stores and major specialty retailers. Farmers and Kmart represent large-format general merchandise, while fashion, electronics, pharmacy and sporting-goods tenants serve more specific shopping needs. The centre's role is primarily that of a regional shopping destination rather than a single-product brand.

• Grocery retail · 1965

  Supermarket and grocery facilities

  Supermarket retail has been part of the centre's tenant mix since its opening. The complex has historically accommodated Four Square–New World and New World operations, and its current major grocery anchor is Pak'nSave. These tenants provide regular, convenience-oriented traffic alongside the mall's discretionary retail offer.

• Food and beverage · 1992

  Dining and café facilities

  Food and beverage facilities include the food court, café court, restaurants and cafés. Dining provision became more prominent through the 1992 remodelling and the Westfield redevelopment completed in 2005, helping the centre support longer leisure-oriented visits as well as routine shopping.

• Entertainment · 2005

  Hoyts cinema complex

  The Hoyts cinema complex was introduced during the 2003–2005 redevelopment as a six-screen multiplex. A further screen was added during the later expansion. The cinema forms a key entertainment component of the centre and complements its retail, restaurant and café uses.

• Shopping-centre services · 1992

  Parking and access infrastructure

  Customer parking has been expanded throughout the property's history. The 1992 remodelling introduced a rooftop car park, while the 2009 expansion added a four-level structure with capacity for approximately 400 vehicles.

• 2009

  Westfield expanded retail and parking capacityStrategy

  Background

  The centre pursued another large expansion to increase tenant capacity, improve customer facilities and strengthen its entertainment offer.

  Action taken

  A four-level car park was completed, followed by a retail phase adding about 40 stores, a café court and another Hoyts cinema screen.

  Aftermath

  The complex expanded to approximately 54,000 square metres and became a larger combined shopping, dining and entertainment destination.

  Source

• 2003

  Westfield initiated a major redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The centre required a substantial modernisation programme after decades of incremental expansion and remodelling.

  Action taken

  The Westfield Group began a redevelopment focused on enlarging and modernising the retail complex while adding dining and leisure uses.

  Aftermath

  The programme was completed in 2005 and introduced the Hoyts multiplex along with new restaurant and café facilities.

  Source

1. 1Westfield Riccartonen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Westfield Riccarton official websitewestfield.co.nz