Dawson & Co will open a flagship store for Italian furniture brand Molteni&C in Parnell, expanding Auckland’s premium retail furniture offering.

Molteni&C has operated in the country since 2021 through Dawson & Co. The retailer currently showcases the brand within its showroom but will now launch an exclusive 450sqm standalone gallery.

Dawson & Co director Scott Fisk said the move reflects sustained growth in the high-end segment.

“Opening a dedicated Molteni&C store in Auckland is considered an evolution for us and aligns closely with our business’s growth trajectory,” Fisk told The New Zealand Herald.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen sustained expansion at the premium end of the market, which has given us the confidence to invest further in specialised brand environments and deeper architectural capability.”

The gallery is under construction next to Dawson & Co’s existing Parnell showroom at 99 The Strand, in the building formerly occupied by Matisse.

The heritage building will retain original beams and remnants of industrial machinery. Once complete, the showroom will present Molteni&C’s full-home offering, including kitchen, wardrobe, living space, and bedroom collections. The upper level will be converted into office space.

“We see Auckland increasingly positioning itself as a serious design destination within the South Pacific,” Fisk added.

“This investment reflects our belief in that future – and in the continued growth of a market that values considered, enduring luxury.”