Historic retail space turning over new leaf

The former Dymocks bookstore may revert to two shops. Photo / Supplied

Wellington retail space vacated by a major bookstore could be carved up to tempt new tenants.

Nathan Male of retail leasing specialists Metro Commercial in Auckland said the Lambton Quay store, previously leased to Dymocks, could become two separate shops.

The property at 360 Lambton Quay is owned by ING Property Trust and Male said the store was part of the historic buildings known as the Stewart Dawsons' corner in the heritage area at the Lambton Quay/Willis St junction.

The ex-Dymocks store is 730sq m but Male said this could easily be reconfigured into separate 250sq m and 400sq m shops as originally laid out.

Dymocks at 246 Queen St in Auckland is also shutting on June 27 and that space is up for lease. Agents said they were talking to a number of parties about the prominent site.

Dymocks' central-Wellington store was placed in liquidation with the loss of 12 jobs. The North Shore Dymocks at Smales Farm has also gone into liquidation.