Commercial Occupancy Rates High In The South, SIT Arcade Needs New Name

The former SIT arcade needs a new name, with various news tenants having secured retail and office space in the link from Don to Esk Street.

Owner Gaire Thompson said the Don-Esk Arcade had actually been proposed as its name, as well as Commerce South, but as yet nothing was finalised – so the Nelson-based businessman is open to ideas. Some locals have suggested ‘Shadbolt Arcade’ as a tribute to long serving  mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt.

Thompson Property Group also owns Noel Leeming and Number One Shoes, along with the old Railway Station and the former Farmers Building. Related: Invercargill Central Becoming A Community Hub For All

With the H&J Smiths department store soon closing, there has also been interest from retailers looking at moving into the old Farmers Building on the ground floor.

Gaire said it was likely one tenant would be using the top floor for office space, “but we might lease out the bottom to retailers.”

The school uniform division of H&J Smiths is moving next door to the old Stewarts Pharmacy building.

Meanwhile, the Thompson Property Group is also starting on an expansion of Smiths City, building a warehouse alongside the store, so all of its stock will be on one site.

Thompson Property Group owns and operates commercial office buildings, car parking facilities, residential buildings, as well as industrial and retail properties all over New Zealand.