By Hamish Clark
Christchurch's city mall is set to reopen at the end of next month with retailers using containers as popup shops, filling gaps left empty by demolished buildings.
Central city business operators now operating on the edge of the Red Zone are using inventive ways to make a living.
From Japanese takeaways to the Carlton Country Club, all sitting on the back of a truck.
All filling the gaps.
“It's a bit tough but somehow we can make something to make a living,” says Nick Merentitis from Demetries.
As more buildings are quicky brought down, business operators are slowly returning to the edge of the Red Zone.
Neil Robinson is moving his golf shop, Sharpies Golf, back into the same space he was forced to evacuate.
“I am still positive about the central city… I have got a good feeling about it,” he says.
With the city mall being cleaned out a new retail precinct will pop up. Twenty-seven shops and cafes all housed in new shipping containers inside the Red Zone.
“All of Christchurch at some point will come in and have a look and we want the experience to be so good that they will want to return,” says Paul Lonsdale from Restart Christchurch.
Residents are slowly starting to venture out closer to the city centre, despite all the gaps.
“They will be filled… slowly, and this shows it already brings people to town to have a look around and gets people back out,” says Christchurch resident Campbell McIntosh.
The mall will open at the end of next month and is just what is needed, getting more people back in to town and bringing the dead city centre back to life.
3 News