Smith and Caughey Closing Down Sale: Official Closure 2025

For generations of Aucklanders, a trip to Smith & Caughey’s on Queen Street was a tradition that ended on 15 June 2025 when the doors closed for good after 145 years. This article looks at why the store closed, what happened to its landmark building, and what the closure means for the city’s retail landscape.

Years of operation before closure: 145 years (1880–2025) ·
Official Queen Street closing date: 4 PM, 15 June 2025 ·
Redundancies announced: 98 ·
Revenue drop: 40% over five years ·
Owner of the Queen Street building: Smith & Caughey’s Ltd (placed for sale)

Six key facts, one pattern: a 145-year-old institution felled by a 40% revenue slide and changing shopping habits, with its landmark building now on the market.

Why are Smith and Caughey closing down?

Declining sales and foot traffic explained

The company’s official statement cited declining sales, foot traffic, and wider economic conditions as the primary reasons for closure. A source familiar with the finances told NZ Herald (Auckland’s leading newspaper) that revenue had fallen 40% over five years. The shift to online shopping and the rise of suburban malls eroded the foot traffic that had sustained the Queen Street store for decades.

Impact of economic conditions in retail

The wider retail environment in New Zealand has been tough. The 40% revenue drop over five years is a stark indicator of how quickly a once-thriving department store can become unviable. The company’s decision to keep a reduced Queen Street operation beyond January 2025—as reported by Heart of the City (Auckland’s city centre business association)—was a last-ditch effort that ultimately couldn’t reverse the trend.

The implication: The closure of Smith & Caughey’s is a case study in how even iconic family-run retailers cannot withstand the combined forces of e-commerce, suburban competition, and rising costs.

Is Smith & Caughey still open?

Queen Street store final closing date and hours

No. The Queen Street store closed for the final time on Sunday, 15 June 2025, at 4 PM. RNZ Checkpoint (New Zealand’s public radio broadcaster) reported the closure time on 13 June, confirming the schedule had been brought forward from the earlier announced date of 31 July 2025.

Newmarket store remaining schedule

The Newmarket store’s closure date has not been confirmed by official sources. The company’s initial announcement in May 2024 included Newmarket in the consultation, but no definitive closing date has been published. As of the latest available information, the store is still operating on a reduced basis.

What this means: For shoppers, the Queen Street chapter is over. The building is now empty and being marketed for sale. The Newmarket store remains the only physical outlet, but its future is uncertain.

What will happen to Smith and Caughey’s building?

Landmark Queen Street building listed for sale

The iconic Queen Street building—a city-block property that has housed the department store for over 140 years—was listed for sale in March 2026. JLL New Zealand (global real estate services firm) is handling the marketing. The sale represents a rare opportunity in Auckland’s midtown retail corridor.

Potential redevelopment plans or new tenant

No buyer has been identified yet, and no redevelopment plans have been made public. The site is zoned for mixed-use, and with the city’s ongoing midtown revitalisation, it could be redeveloped into retail, office, or residential space. The building’s future will be a key determinant of the character of that part of Queen Street.

The pattern: The building’s fate mirrors the retailer’s own: a once-integral part of the city now faces an uncertain future, dependent on market forces and new investment.

Who is the founder of Smith and Caughey?

William Smith and John Caughey: founding partners

Smith & Caughey’s was founded in 1880 by William Smith and John Caughey. According to Wikipedia (the encyclopedia), the store opened on Queen Street and grew to become the oldest surviving retail business in New Zealand until its closure in 2025.

History of the store from 1880

For over 145 years, the department store was a fixture of Auckland retail. It expanded to suburban malls including Albany and Newmarket in the early 2000s, but the core Queen Street location remained the flagship. The store’s closure was described by media as the end of a 145-year history (rova (entertainment platform)).

The trade-off: The founders’ legacy of a family-run, independent department store lasted longer than almost any other in New Zealand, but it could not survive the structural shift in retail.

Who is the CEO of Smith and Caughey’s?

Current CEO and leadership team during closure

The CEO during the closure period was not explicitly named in the public announcements. The company’s LinkedIn posts were signed by the “Smith & Caughey’s team,” and no individual CEO was quoted. However, Wikipedia lists the company’s management structure, but the CEO’s identity has not been confirmed in the available sources. The leadership team oversaw the difficult decision to close after 145 years.

Why this matters: The lack of a named public face during the closure adds to the sense of a quiet, dignified exit rather than a dramatic collapse.

Smith & Caughey’s closure timeline

• 1880 – Smith & Caughey’s founded by William Smith and John Caughey in Auckland.
• 29 May 2024 – Staff consultation announced on potential closure of Queen Street, Newmarket, and online operations (Smith & Caughey’s (LinkedIn)).
• October 2024 – Nearly 250 staff briefed on the closure proposal (NZ Herald).
• Early 2025 – Decision to keep a reduced Queen Street operation beyond January, then later reversed (Heart of the City (LinkedIn)).
• 21 May 2025 – Official announcement: online store to close 27 May, Queen Street store to close 31 July, 98 redundancies (Smith & Caughey’s (LinkedIn)).
• Late May 2025 – End-of-era sale begins, attracts heavy customer demand (NZ Herald).
• 13 June 2025 – RNZ reports closure brought forward to 15 June at 4 PM (see earlier RNZ link).
• 15 June 2025, 4 PM – Queen Street store and online store officially close.
• March 2026 – Queen Street building marketed for sale by JLL (JLL New Zealand).

The takeaway: The timeline shows how quickly a 145-year-old institution moved from consultation to final closure, with the building sale marking the last chapter.

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

The pattern: confirmed facts outnumber uncertainties, but the key financial and ownership details remain unanswered.

Quotes on the closure

We are immensely saddened to share that our retail and online store on Queen Street will close, resulting in 98 redundancies.

— Smith & Caughey’s official announcement, 21 May 2025 (Smith & Caughey’s (LinkedIn))

Revenue had fallen 40% over five years, a source familiar with the company’s finances said.

— Anonymous source cited by NZ Herald

The closure of Smith & Caughey’s after 145 years leaves a gap in Auckland’s retail heritage. The Queen Street building is now on the market, and the company’s brand may or may not find a new owner. For the city’s retail landscape, the loss of a family-run institution is a clear signal: the traditional department store model, once a cornerstone of urban shopping, cannot survive without reinvention. For Auckland investors and planners, the building sale will be a bellwether for the future of Queen Street’s retail corridor.

Frequently asked questions

What these answers show: Most immediate customer questions have clear answers, but long-term questions about the brand and building remain open.

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