Farmers department store will move into Whitcoulls corner store on Queen and Victoria streets in the Auckland CBD.

Farmers, which provides a full offering across beauty, fashion, lingerie, accessories and homewares, will be refurbished within the next few months at its new location.

James Pascoe Group, which owns Farmers and Whitcoulls, says the move to rebrand the bookshop’s site as a department store Follows Topshop and Topman’s opening  in close proximity to the store.

Prada, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Swarovski have also opened stores on Queen St, creating a fashion district in an area also characterised by restaurants and cafes on High St and Britomart. Previously this area was abandoned by shoppers in favour of Westfield malls in the city’s outlying suburbs.

The move heralds Farmers return to the CBD after the closure of Farmers Queen St at the beginning of 2014 when its long term lease came to an end.

Whitcoulls will continue to trade in the CBD, albeit much smaller and with far less stock, at its store in Downtown Mall.

The new Farmers store, which will span three levels, is predicted to open before Christmas.