The opening of the new Mecca store, at 248 George St, has been postponed to early next year, while building consent is still pending.
The Australian and New Zealand cosmetics giant had previously slated its new Dunedin store for a November opening, after announcing its plans earlier this year to make its debut in the city.
Mecca NZ market manager Nicky Shore said they wanted to ensure the new store was a space that the Dunedin community would love, and so had made some updates to the original plan.
“This means it will take us a little longer than we had hoped to open the doors, and we’re now looking to open our new Dunedin store in early 2025.”
A temporary “pop-up” store featuring a select range of Mecca products opened at 274 George St, in late September, to a queue of beauty fans.
It would remain open until the official store arrived, she said.
“We’ve seen such a positive response to the pop-up that it’s only made us more excited to bring the full Mecca experience to Dunedin in 2025”.
Mecca sought resource consent from the Dunedin City Council in July for signage and building alterations to the former Noel Leeming premises — including two illuminated Mecca logos mounted above the veranda and to the side of the building.
It also planned to render the building’s entire facade in raw concrete, install a new veranda and install a canvas awning above three windows on the first storey.
The proposal was amended after consultation with the council’s heritage and urban design team leader so the only signage was a Mecca logo incorporated into the glazing above the entry doors, and consent was granted in August.
The canvas awning and veranda were also struck from the plan and the rendering was changed.
A council spokesman said building consent was still pending.
The building was a part of the George St Commercial Heritage Precinct and had been identified as a character contributing building in the district plan (2GP), meaning additional consent requirements apply for any alterations, additions or demolition.
tim.scott@odt.co.nz
