A longstanding retailer at Westfield Riccarton is closing permanently, just months after two popular menswear stores pulled out of the Christchurch shopping centre following rent increases.

Life Pharmacy Riccarton has announced it is shutting its doors for good, marking the end of an era for the well-known pharmacy.

Chris Lynch Media has been told the store’s lease was due for renewal.

The store built a strong and loyal following over the years, with customers returning for its experienced makeup artists, specialist fragrance advisers and popular pharmacists, many of whom had become familiar and trusted faces in the community.

In a message posted on social media, the pharmacy said, “The time has come for us to say goodbye, for good!”

“Every great journey has its final chapter. As we prepare to farewell our store permanently, we thank our valued customers for their loyalty and support.”

The closure follows the departure of menswear retailers YD and Tarocash, which shut their Westfield Riccarton stores in August.

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In July, Chris Lynch Media reported that the Australian company behind both brands had decided not to renew their leases following an increase in rent.

At the time, Tarocash branch manager Mayson Downie said the closures were disappointing, particularly because sales had been strong.

“It’s a real shame because the stores were going from strength to strength and sales were strong,” Downie said.

Downie also questioned whether other retailers would follow, with a number of leases understood to have been coming up for renewal in August.

Life Pharmacy has launched a closing down sale, offering discounts of between 25 and 40 percent across the store, along with triple loyalty points on Chanel and Dior products.

The business operates under Riccarton Mall Pharmacy 2000 Limited, which was incorporated in September 2000.

Chris Lynch Media has approached the pharmacy for further comment, along with Westfield Riccarton’s parent company, Scentre Group, which has remained reluctant to engage with media enquiries.