New Brighton Mall

During the 1960s, New Brighton was Christchurch's only shopping centre open on a Saturday so for some time it was all go for the retailers. Which meant New Brighton was the only place in Christchurch for people who worked all week to get to the shops as a result business thrived.
In the late 60's and early 70's it was a vibrant street packed with shoppers on a Saturday with big named stores offering their wares.

A Cafe across from the beach with arcade machines filled with teenagers and tearooms for those more inclined to tea and small sandwiches with cake.

With ice cream on the beach on a hot summers day, people applying a coating of coconut oil roasting themselves in the sun or surf board under your arm looking for your spot to surf.

Looking to improve the shopping experience a proposal to close Seaview Road to traffic was first initiated in 1963, and after town planning, traffic management and parking surveys were carried out in cooperation with the New Brighton District Business Association, the design for the mall by the City Council's Architect's Division was approved in 1974. Construction started in May 1977, and the Mall was officially opened by the Mayor, Sir Hamish Hay, on 25 February 1978. This meant no more traffic or parking outside of the stores. Town planning was different back then they made car parking a priority it was in abundance large spaces behind the Mall in the middle of the roads and two parking ramps looking over the sea were available. Still the cars would be lined up in the side streets as it was the place to go on a Saturday.

However in 1980 the introduction of nationwide Saturday trading came about then seven-day trading in 1990's activity at the New Brighton Mall declined significantly to such a state that all the major retailers left and most shops ended up closing.

Several attempts to revitalize the Mall have been taken including building of the public library, modern playground, relocating the famous Whale Pool and building of the pier. Changes to the road layout have been made more than once with each new design or addition being hailed as the new beginning of the once popular part of the city. Cars now drive down the deserted single lane another change to bring back the people. (In 2019 brings the new heated Salt Water pools as the next great thing) See Master Plan.

However it still remains a shadow of its former self given its location next to the sea and the investment it has had it is difficult to understand why it has remained so.
Although recent investment may change all of this (we all hope so) with a seafront budget of 19.2 million to go towards a new playground and Whale pool and Salt Water pools in 2019.