Borders metamorphoses into Whitcoulls at 226 Lambton Quay
Up until the last time I looked, 226-256 Lambton Quay was a big Borders store.
Lambton Quay is one of Wellington's premier shopping streets, so its situation, opposite iconic department store Kirkaldie & Stains, and cheek-by-jowl (almost) with a Farmers Department store, was enviable.
The only fly in the ointment, I guess, is that the Wellington flagship store of the Whitcoulls book chain was just a short gallop down the street.
As we all know, both chains were bought by David and Anne Norman. I wondered what would happen to this particular Borders, and was assured by a polite young man at the checkout counter that it was going to become Whitcoulls.
And, he has been proved right. As I passed in the bus yesterday, the store was sporting natty new signs and lots of enticing advertising.
It is now definitely a Whitcoulls store. So far, the Whitcoulls store down the street is still intact and running. Long may it stay that way.
And, he has been proved right. As I passed in the bus yesterday, the store was sporting natty new signs and lots of enticing advertising.
It is now definitely a Whitcoulls store. So far, the Whitcoulls store down the street is still intact and running. Long may it stay that way.
2 comments:
the opening of this Borders store directly caused the closure of the Bennetts bookstore in Kirkaldies opposite; it also took business from other Wellington central bookstores.
The disease has been in evidence for some time. First staff numbers fell and the handy customer info terminals went. Then entire bays of books were removed. The remaining stands went from spine-out to face out display as stock plunged in quantity as well as quality. Next in came pallets of photocopy paper. More recently, the prime ground floor entrance display ares have been filled up with 4-for-$20 paperbacks and those dull UK-sourced remainders that clutter Whitties. So much for the Norman Conquest! Good news, though, for Unity and for the Book Depository....
Post a Comment