Marbecks

PHOTO: Marbecks. HEART OF THE CITY.

Iconic Auckland music retailer Marbecks Record Shop is closing its Queen Street store after 90 years, moving fully online as high rents, low foot traffic, and consumer shifts hit the CBD.

📀 A 90-Year Legacy Comes to an End

For nearly a century, Marbecks Record Shop has been a cornerstone of Auckland’s music scene. From its beginnings in 1934, when Alfred and Eileen Marbeck first opened the doors, through three generations of family ownership, the store has built a loyal community of vinyl and CD lovers.

But on 31 October 2025, the Queen Street shop will close for good – surviving only as an online store.

🏙️ Why Marbecks Is Leaving Queen Street

Owner Robert Marbeck says the decision was heartbreaking but necessary.

  • 💸 Soaring rent costs

  • 👣 Declining foot traffic in the CBD

  • 📱 Shifts in consumer behaviour toward online shopping

“The city is hard to get to, foot traffic is down, and people simply don’t have the time to shop in person,” he said. “To survive, we need to adapt.”

💔 Customers React: “It’s the End of an Institution”

Shoppers spoken to by RNZ described the closure as a major loss for Auckland’s cultural identity.

  • 🎧 Brent Thomson, a customer for 20 years: “It’s sad for the CBD. Marbecks was an institution.”

  • 💿 Graham Stride, who still buys CDs: “I’ve mostly gone digital… but Marbecks closing is a shame.”

  • 🛍️ Michael Huang, a younger shopper: “Most of my friends shop online, but I love browsing records in-store. It’s sad everything’s moving online.”

  • 🎶 Gustavo Bezerra, regular for seven years: “I like the vibe and the people. I’ll really miss it.”

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🚧 The Struggles of Queen Street Retail

Marbecks isn’t the only casualty of Auckland’s struggling city centre.

  • 🏬 Smith & Caughey’s closed earlier this year after 145 years.

  • 🚇 Construction of the City Rail Link has caused disruption.

  • 🚗 Loss of car parks and loading zones has made access harder.

Viv Beck from Heart of the City said Marbecks’ exit shows how infrastructure projects and reduced vehicle access are hurting smaller retailers.

“It’s very sad to see the end of such an iconic business. We need better support for CBD shops to survive.”

Auckland councillor Mike Lee went further, calling the loss “tragic”, blaming restrictions on cars for damaging retail viability.

🌐 Marbecks’ Future: Online But Still Personal

Despite leaving Queen Street, Marbecks insists it isn’t abandoning its community.

📞 Customers will still be able to call staff directly for recommendations.
📦 The business will continue to stock CDs, vinyl, and special orders online.

As Robert Marbeck put it: “Our customers are friends for life. The way they buy has changed, but their passion for music hasn’t.”

🚨 The Bigger Picture

The closure of Marbecks is more than just the loss of a shop – it’s another sign of how New Zealand’s retail landscape is being reshaped by:

  • 🖥️ Digital commerce

  • 🚧 Long-running city infrastructure projects

  • 💵 Economic pressures on small businesses

For music lovers, it’s the end of a physical haven. For Auckland, it’s another reminder that the CBD’s revival is far from guaranteed.

SOURCE: RNZ

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