our people. our community.
bwana gupta phonezone
Bhawna couldn’t be happier about her life-changing shift across the world. She came to New Zealand from her home in Punjab, India in 2020 and was first based in Christchurch. Her sights weren’t set on Queenstown until she was offered a chance to open the FiveMile store.
“It’s really nice living in a small town because the community here is incredibly tight-knit,” she says.
Bhawna says she enjoys the technology market, learning about new trends, and helping her customers with their best options. “We’re quite close with the team at Noel Leeming next door,” she says. “They’re always welcoming to us going in, having a chat, and seeing what’s new.”
Mostly Bhawna spends her time with friends and family, but when she’s at FiveMile she loves a trip to Billy’s Espresso for their coffee or shopping at stores like Rebel Sport.
“It’s really nice living in a small town because the community here is incredibly tight-knit”
the mile.
news + happenings at fivemile.
Small local businesses
thrive at FiveMile
Five Mile is a one-stop-shop for locals and visitors to the centre, with an eclectic mix of small local businesses alongside larger national retailers. Centre Manager Regan Allington says everyone enjoys supporting local as and where they can.
“Our smaller local businesses give FiveMile plenty of character,” he says. “In many towns and cities you’ll find the same retailers or businesses wherever you go, but we love having businesses here that are unique. Having that mix and local owners who understand the market is pivotal to the success of Five Mile.”
FiveMile Pharmacy
INTRODUCING
One of Five Mile’s original businesses, FiveMile Pharmacy opened in 2015 and owner Ken says he loves its centrality to all amenities. “The best bit about being here is the people, being able to help others whether they’re local or visitors, and working with such a great team.”
mons royale
INTRODUCING
Owners Hamish and Hannah Acland are as local as they come – designing and selling their high-performance merino clothing and accessories since 2009 after it all started in the mountains surrounding Queenstown and Wanaka. Their recently-opened Five Mile store is part of a planned retail expansion throughout NZ.
brandland
INTRODUCING
So much more than a design studio, it’s also Queenstown’s ‘go-to’ for gifts, clothing, local brand and artists. An early FiveMile ‘adopter’ after opening in 2017, manager Olivia Santner says the retail side of the business has rapidly expanded. “We have strong local support on the studio side but then every time a local comes in we hear we are the best for gifts,” she says. “Visitors come and go but locals are our core business.”
tanoshi
INTRODUCING
The award-winning Japanese eatery already had a strong local following in central Queenstown when it opened its Osaka-style dining experience at Five Mile in 2021. Owner Matty Yates says Five Mile is where locals head to for their outstanding cuisine. “We realise how important our locals are, and we’d like to thank them so much for their support.”
alta
INTRODUCING
Snow and bike store Alta has been operating in central Queenstown for around 13 years and owner Aaron Fernandez says opening a second outlet at Five Mile two years ago was about building the brand, especially on the service side. “Servicing and tuning snow and bike gear is a growing part of our business for locals especially, who find it easy to drop off and pick up gear with parking right outside the door.”
QT MAGAZINE
spring issue OUT NOW!
Be sure to grab a copy of the Spring QT magazine.
You’ll find a feature on the small businesses calling FiveMile home!