Auckland City's golden mile has yet to stage its own recovery from lockdowns and the exodus of thousands of inner city workers.
Two years into the pandemic, dozens of shops remain empty on the main street and foot traffic in the CBD is still less than half what it was in 2019.
Reporter Amy Williams and camera operator Marika Khabazi took the mood of the city.
Auckland businesses call for creative thinking if level 4 continues
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Auckland businesses call for creative thinking if level 4 continues
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Auckland business owners are nervously waiting to find out how long the city will remain in lockdown.
Data shows spending in the city reduces by 40 percent during a level 3 lockdown. File photo.
Photo: RNZ / Jordan Bond
Based in a Queen Street arcade, retailer Marbecks Records is all too familiar with alert level 3 and has closed its doors to take only phone and online orders. We can handle three days; let s hope it doesn t go on, said the music store s owner Roger Marbeck.
He is concerned that when the time comes for people to return to the city, they will be cautious.
The Golden Mile: What does the future hold for Auckland s Queen Street?
5 Feb, 2021 04:00 PM
16 minutes to read
The pocket park proposed for the junction of Fort St and Queen St in downtown Auckland. Image / LandLAB
The pocket park proposed for the junction of Fort St and Queen St in downtown Auckland. Image / LandLAB
Queen St has suffered a double whammy of crushing Covid consequences and the wait for the City Rail Link. There are now 40 empty stores in what was once the country s busiest retail area. Is the Golden Mile losing its lustre? And why are planned upgrades taking so long? Cherie Howie investigates