Smith and Caughey's on Queen St, Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Iconic Auckland retailer Smith and Caughey's is now considering a plan to downsize significantly, rather than closing the doors for good.
The 144-year-old department store announced in May that it would permanently shut in 2025.
But in a statement today, chairperson Tony Caughey said another option for the future of the business had been identified, and that was to scale back.
He said it would mean closing the Broadway Newmarket store early in 2025 and making the Queen Street store smaller, with a focus on popular goods and online shopping.
There would also be job cuts. The company currently employs about 240 staff.
The business is consulting further with staff on the second option, with an outcome expected by the end of next week.