Once a bus depot – hence its name The Depot – this lovely old building full of specialty shops has been earthquake-proofed and beautifully restored.

It houses a selection of boutique Thames businesses and is anchored by The Melbourne Cafe at the Pollen Street side of the building – and Awildian Gin distillery and tasting room at the back of the building. Nestled in between you’ll find a range of specialty shops including AIR-AM Clothing who make handmade design fashion, The Plantery Insider Interiors and Savour & Spice – selling everything from plants, to clothes to artisans’ food and more.

The clever design includes tables and couches that run up the alleyway beside the shop, meaning that there’s a feeling of integration and openness between the cafe and all the other businesses.

There is also an outdoor courtyard – grab the table in the far lefthand corner as you walk out of the building and you can peer into the back of the Awildian Gin distillery and admire the shiny, copper machinery.

If you walk down the inside corridor, keep an eye out on the left for some historical information including old bus driver caps mounted on the wall. There’s also a large safe that’s become a display for Awildian Gin.

The safe dates back to the days of the White brothers who built the building in 1927.

The building wasn’t taken over by NZ Road Service until the 1950s, and the safe stayed at the front of the building. It remained when the building become the Cartwright’s furnishing building, and is still there now, providing a thread of continuity between historical Thames and 21st century Thames.

When the building was developed into The Depot, it took the largest forklift available to shift the safe from the front down to it’s current location – it’s unlikely to be moved again! There are no keys available for the doors, so the only way to open the safe was by calling in the engineers.

Once you walk inside the Depot, it’s easy to forget you’re in Thames – you could be in Melbourne, Wellington or possibly even New York.  And if you’re stuck on what to order from the plentiful cabinet display or menu, just ask the staff. They always take the time to discern and suggest exactly what you need!

That is one of the bonuses of the Depot – it’s a community hub for those who own businesses and those who work there. One staff member describes it as like a family, and that feeling extends to every customer who walks through the door. Even if you just want to have a nosy at the architecture and check out the gin Distillery. The helpful staff will point you in the right direction.  You might find it challenging to walk past the smell of coffee, or past the array of goods in the shops without buying something though!