Local hotspots putting the cool back into our Christchurch community

Rollickin are based on New Regent Street (pictured) with another location on Cashel Street. Source: Rosie Leishman

When you walk into the centre of Christchurch, you are confronted with towering, grey buildings freshly rebuilt from the quakes. But Ōtautahi is also home to many hidden hotspots that bring vibrant life into our Garden City and are making Christchurch cool again. 

First off, we have Rollickin Gelato, an Ōtautahi local legend. Rollickin serves up homemade gelato, sorbets, and desserts with funky flavour combinations and a cult community following. 

Rollickin was started post-quake by born-and-bred local Jed Joyce. As a high school project, Jed sold gelato in a custom-built, self-sufficient horse float to raise money for World Challenge. 

Following the horse float’s success, teenage Joyce hustled to find a permanent spot to expand the business. It eventually found its home on New Regent St, the most magical spot in the city centre. 

Nearly 10 years on, Rollickin has become one of the most prominent local hotspots and success stories in the resilient and re-emerging post-quake city. A gelato is a rite of passage for anyone new to town, a first date, or end-of-week celebratory treat. 

What makes Rollickin stand out as a special spot comes down to Jed and his vision to create a fun space for people to meet up and enjoy the sweeter side of life.  

Rollickin marketing manager Tania Smith said, “Rollickin is more than just the ice cream shop on the corner.” 

“The vision is to keep it fun, and if it’s not fun, we’re not doing it,” said Smith. 

The secret ingredient to Rollickin’s success story is the Christchurch community is at its core. 

“Christchurch is an upbeat and vibrant and it's exciting to see so many young people come here… the future of the city is exciting,” said Smith. 

At Rollickin, people are prioritised, with customers contributing to the business by being encouraged to provide input with the team. With fresh flavours that reflect current events, there is never an excuse to not go back; your sweet tooth will always be craving another scoop. 

With the bold and bright colours welcoming you in, the graphic drawings, comfy sofas, smiling staff, cheeky bumper stickers, events, and fresh flavours to keep you intrigued. Rollickin is an institution curated by community, collaboration, and creativity – celebrating the cool parts of Christchurch. 

Now we move on to Nifty, the perfect pale pink hub for quality preloved clothing. 

As you pass through the industrial side of Cashel Street, it is hard to miss the Barbie dreamhouse filled with pieces of colour-popping consignment clothes. It’s any thrifter’s hottest hotspot in town. 

Nifty is owned and operated by a vintage hunter and a style queen, Rosie Carroll. It is a permanent space born from The Nifty Markets. Carroll started a monthly market back in 2018, out of another local hotspot, Benny’s Barber Shop. 

The market was focused on sustainably and locally made goods, mainly focusing on selling vintage and second-hand clothing. 

In October 2022, Carroll left her job to open the consignment clothing store. This gifted us with Nifty, a pretty pink treasure with fluffy sofas and colourful clothing, open six days a week. 

Carroll started the market “to provide a place for clothing lovers to shop sustainably, hang out, and meet likeminded people.” 

Nifty is run by thrifter Rosie Carroll. Source: Nifty Markets

After the earthquakes, and the extensive rebuilds that followed, Carroll found there were a lack of second-hand clothing stores, and fast fashion giants were opening mega-sized stores in the city. 

“I felt really strongly about kicking back on those companies that were taking over the city… to provide an avenue for young people to shop and sell second-hand clothing,” said Carroll. 

But the two things that make Nifty a local favourite are the clothing and the people. Carroll developed Nifty to become a hub for people to explore their tastes and find things they love, while also prolonging the life of our clothing and combatting unhealthy fast fashion trends. 

Carroll’s vision has been accomplished, with Nifty becoming a hotspot where likeminded people can connect, yarn, and have a good time. Like Rollickin, it is the community that is the core of Nifty. 

Carroll said, “I get to bond with my team and customers over clothing all day. What a dream!” 

Carroll is also a fellow OG Cantab. Since starting Nifty, the fashionista has fallen back in love with her hometown. “I feel really hopeful about the success of the city […] its future is heading in an exciting direction,” said Carroll. 

If her dream of more colourful buildings popping up around the place comes true, we will hopefully be seeing a new wave of bright city staples emerge. 

Ōtautahi is a city full of opportunity, becoming a place for small businesses and creatives to thrive. 

These local legends and their success stories prove that we all live among an existing, innovative and cool Christchurch community. This will only continue to flourish as we support them, one special neighbourhood business at a time.