LynnMall

LynnMall is a shopping centre in New Lynn, a western suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It opened on 30 October 1963 and is widely described as the country's first American-style suburban shopping mall. The project introduced a purpose-built, enclosed shopping-centre format to New Zealand at a time when most suburban retail activity was concentrated along traditional main streets. The development was promoted by the British investment company Hammerson, which identified New Lynn as a location with substantial growth potential. The site was acquired from Bob McGrae of the Auckland Bus Company, and the centre was planned by the architectural practice Livingstone Jones Lang Wootton. Construction was carried out by Cubitt Wells over approximately nine months, with reported construction costs of about NZ$1 million at the time. The proposal generated concern among some Auckland residents and local businesses, who feared that a large planned centre would divert trade from established shopping streets in Avondale, New Lynn and other parts of West Auckland. LynnMall formed part of a wider early shopping-centre development programme associated with Hammerson and Livingstone Jones Lang Wootton. Its opening followed Hammerson's development of Warringah Mall in Sydney and helped demonstrate that the suburban shopping-centre model could be adapted to New Zealand. Subsequent projects influenced by the concept included Riccarton Mall in Christchurch, opened in 1965, and Southmall in Manurewa, opened in 1967. The centre also encouraged the former Henderson Borough Council to develop a competing retail complex, Henderson Square, which later became WestCity Waitakere. The mall was expanded in 1970, increasing its floor area from approximately 90,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet. This expansion made LynnMall the largest indoor shopping centre in New Zealand during parts of the 1970s and 1980s. Further upgrades were undertaken in 1999. A later redevelopment programme began in January 2015, when the centre commenced a reported NZ$36 million expansion known as Brickworks. Brickworks added a cinema, dining facilities and further retail space, and opened to the public in November 2015. Today, LynnMall functions as a mixed retail, food, leisure and service destination within the developing New Lynn town centre. Its tenant mix has included a Farmers department store and a Countdown supermarket, alongside smaller shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities. The centre remains notable both as a local shopping destination and as an important milestone in the history of New Zealand retail property. On 3 September 2021, a stabbing attack at the mall injured seven people. The attacker, Ahamed Samsudeen, was shot and killed by police at the scene. The incident became one of the most serious events associated with the centre and generated nationwide attention, although it was an act of violence at the mall rather than a business-related scandal.

LynnMall emerged from the early-1960s expansion of planned suburban retail in Auckland. British investment company Hammerson promoted the development of an American-style shopping mall and selected New Lynn because of the suburb's anticipated growth. The land was purchased from Bob McGrae of the Auckland Bus Company. Architectural planning was undertaken by Livingstone Jones Lang Wootton, while Cubitt Wells completed construction in approximately nine months. The centre opened on 30 October 1963 as New Zealand's first American-style suburban shopping centre. Its arrival represented a significant change from the country's established pattern of independent shops arranged along suburban commercial streets. The proposal had attracted criticism from residents and traders who feared that a large enclosed centre would draw customers away from Avondale, New Lynn and other West Auckland shopping areas. LynnMall became an early example of a retail format that was subsequently adopted elsewhere in New Zealand. Hammerson and Livingstone Jones Lang Wootton were involved in later developments, including Riccarton Mall in Christchurch in 1965 and Southmall in Manurewa in 1967. The centre also influenced local competition: Henderson Borough Council responded by creating Henderson Square, which opened in 1968 and was later renamed WestCity Waitakere. In 1970, LynnMall underwent a major extension. Its floor area increased from roughly 90,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet, making it the largest indoor shopping centre in New Zealand during the 1970s and 1980s. The centre received additional upgrades in 1999 as the retail environment and expectations for shopping-centre facilities evolved. A substantial modernisation followed in the 2010s. In January 2015, work began on a reported NZ$36 million expansion called Brickworks. The project introduced a cinema, a dining precinct and additional stores. Brickworks opened in November 2015, complementing established anchor tenants such as Farmers and Countdown and reinforcing LynnMall's role in New Lynn's town-centre development. The centre's history also includes a major public-safety incident. On 3 September 2021, a stabbing attack injured seven people inside the mall. Police shot and killed the attacker, Ahamed Samsudeen. The event received extensive national attention, but it was unrelated to LynnMall's retail operations or corporate strategy.

• 2021

  Stabbing attack

  [1]LynnMallen.wikipedia.org

  Seven people were injured in an attack at the mall; police killed the attacker at the scene.

• 2015

  Brickworks redevelopment opens

  [1]LynnMallen.wikipedia.org

  The Brickworks expansion, adding cinema, dining and retail space, opened to the public in November.

• 1999

  Centre upgrades

  [1]LynnMallen.wikipedia.org

  LynnMall underwent further upgrades as part of its continuing redevelopment.

• 1970

  Major floor-area expansion

  [1]LynnMallen.wikipedia.org

  An extension increased the centre's reported floor area from approximately 90,000 to 150,000 square feet.

• 1963

  LynnMall opens

  [1]LynnMallen.wikipedia.org

  LynnMall opened on 30 October as New Zealand's first American-style suburban shopping centre.

A community-oriented suburban shopping centre combining everyday retail, department-store shopping, groceries, dining and entertainment in Auckland's western suburbs.

• Fashion, general merchandise and services · 1963

  Retail shops

  LynnMall provides a multi-tenant retail environment containing fashion, household, personal-care, specialty and service businesses. The centre's role is primarily local and community-oriented, serving routine shopping needs as well as discretionary purchases.

• Department store

  Farmers

  Farmers is identified as an established department-store anchor within the centre. Its presence broadens LynnMall's offer across apparel, beauty, homewares, general merchandise and seasonal goods.

• Supermarket

  Countdown supermarket

  The Countdown supermarket provides everyday grocery shopping and helps position LynnMall as a convenient destination for frequent local visits rather than solely an occasional comparison-shopping venue.

• Dining and entertainment precinct · 2015

  Brickworks

  Brickworks is LynnMall's 2015 expansion and redevelopment area. It added a cinema, dining facilities and further retail space, extending the centre's use beyond conventional shopping into leisure and food-led visits.

• 2021

  LynnMall stabbing attack

  On 3 September 2021, seven people were injured in a stabbing attack at LynnMall. Police shot and killed the attacker, Ahamed Samsudeen. The incident was a public-safety event at the centre and not a commercial or governance scandal involving the mall.

  Source

Read more

• 2015

  Development of the Brickworks precinctStrategy

  Background

  LynnMall pursued a major expansion to strengthen its position in New Lynn's developing town centre and broaden its offer beyond traditional retail.

  Action taken

  The centre commenced a reported NZ$36 million redevelopment in January 2015, adding a cinema, dining precinct and additional stores.

  Aftermath

  Brickworks opened to the public in November 2015 and complemented the existing Farmers and Countdown anchors.

  Reported expansion cost. NZ$36 million (2015)

  Source

1. 1LynnMallen.wikipedia.org
2. 2LynnMall official websitelynnmall.co.nz