Ground floor tenants - press release

20 Apr 2009 -

Iconic Queenstown building the Mountaineer is bringing a new international brand and renowned retail tenants to the New Zealand resort town.

California-based brand Quiksilver is opening its seventh New Zealand store at the Mountaineer, with a substantial presence on the ground floor and basement area of the building.

One of the world’s largest manufacturers of boardsport and mountain-related equipment and clothing, Quiksilver is making the move to Queenstown because of obvious synergies.

“Queenstown represents everything that relates to the Quiksilver brand,” said Quiksilver Retail Marketing Manager Nigel Muscroft.  “Like Quiksilver, Queenstown is fun, adventurous and progressive, plus it has the mountains for riding.”

Also new to Queenstown and making a bold fashion statement is the ANdREA MOORE brand, which sees a potential market in fashion-conscious Queenstown locals and among the thousands of visitors to the town.

“We’re all about women who want to dress in a unique, individual manner,” said Andrea Moore. “The women I design for have attitude, a zest for life and like to express their individuality, and I believe in enhancing a woman’s figure, not hiding it.”

Renowned for dresses and coats, the colour red and fabulous fabrics, this is the company’s fifth New Zealand store.

Returning to the Mountaineer following its two-year redevelopment is Kathmandu, a company renowned throughout New Zealand, Australia and the UK for its quality outdoor clothing and travel and adventure equipment.

From simple beginnings sewing outdoor essentials for friends, the Kathmandu brand has developed, grown and become an industry leader and specialist in clothing and equipment for travel and adventure. Kathmandu has been working with a design team to create an inspiring, stimulating and rugged retail environment for its new Queenstown store.

Also returning to the Mountaineer retail ‘fold’ are two Queenstown-based businesses, one of which is Queenstown’s longstanding manufacturing jewellers and gemcutters under the banner of JEWELLERS BENCH.

A family business with two generations’ experience, JEWELLERS BENCH will service locals and international visitors with a focus on custom-made fine jewellery, specialising in diamond, opal and coloured gemstones.

The remaining ground-floor retail space will be occupied by Betty’s Liquor, returning to the same Mountaineer site it previously occupied on Beach Street.

Betty’s stocks a full range of premium quality wines, spirits, liqueurs and chilled beer, including a dedicated selection of local Central Otago wines.

The new-look Mountaineer is scheduled to open in winter 2009, and features large ground floor windows designed to give the building a light and airy look and feel, while new vertical columns support glass and steel sun shades.

Westwood Group Holdings Ltd director Johnny Stevenson said the quality of the restoration and refurbishment of the protected building, coupled with its prominent central Queenstown position, had helped attract its prestigious tenants.

“These brands all have a loyal following, and I’m sure they will all help make the Mountaineer a huge drawcard. The redevelopment has married the old with the new to deliver a beautiful building.”

A small amount of retail space is still available. For further information please contact Di Liddell 03 442 9674.