Christchurch shipping container mal's first anniversary

25 October 2012

Photo Opportunity/Media Advisory – Saturday & Sunday, October 27-28

Christchurch shipping container mall to celebrate first anniversary

The Re:START shipping container mall in central Christchurch celebrates its first birthday this weekend (October 27-28).

The quirky precinct was the first move back into the inner city, following the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes.

Paul Lonsdale, manager of Re:START, said the mall was continuing to achieve its aim of encouraging people to return to the inner city.

“Re:START has really helped to encourage people back into the inner city and to demonstrate that it is commercially viable. It also shows much can be achieved when people work together on a common goal for the benefit of a community.”

He said the colourful mall has continued to evolve since its inception, adding new retailers, food outlets and a weekend market. The mall began with 27 retailers and now features 41, including four banks.

Lonsdale said that Re:START was always a temporary project to bridge the gap until new building took place.

“The initial six months has grown to 12 months, and we will now continue until March next year and could continue longer, depending on when building activity will start.”

Lonsdale acknowledged the support of a wide variety of people and organisations, including the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust which provided an interest free loan of nearly $3.4 million, and the ASB made an initial grant of $300,ooo with a further $50,000 going forward to March.

The festivities include:

Saturday
• People are invited to help decorate a 3m long iced birthday cake, 10am-12.30pm in Re:START at the Ballantynes courtyard. It will be marked into approximately 80 x 10cm squares and every participant will be given cake-decorating supplies. Limited numbers. *For food hygiene reasons, the cake to be decorated is polystyrene – real cake and tea will be served 1.30pm-3pm.

• Body painting demonstration, noon-4pm, at the MAC counter inBallantynes.

Sunday
• Demonstration by Masterchef winner Nadia Lim at midday-12.45pm and 1pm-1.45pm. Ballantynes pantry.

The weekend’s celebrations will feature a variety of street performers and live music.

ENDS

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