I remember the good old days on Republic when it was on Ponsonby Road and run by that interior designer from TV… Well, a lot has changed since they sold up. It’s still going for a beachy chic vibe but for me, totally misses the mark. The store now feels cluttered and the pieces a little tacky. They’ve gone a bit nuts with the paint job too, one wall is bright fuchsia and the other yellow & white stripes. Credit where credit is due though and their large coral pieces are impressive. I won’t be rushing back here anytime soon, but home décor style is very individual so whilst it’s not too my taste, that’s not to say others won’t like it.
Hannah J V.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Portland, OR
I interviewed the owners of Republic a few years back when they were celebrating 10 years in business, a couple of which were on Pompallier Terrace, Ponsonby. The guys showed me around the shop and proved to me that I didn’t have to spend the King’s ransom to shop at Republic. In fact, if you’re a budget conscious shopper who doesn’t get credit card happy when they see shiny pretty things, Republic has some pretty neat, pretty unique stuff. The guys who own the place travel all over the world finding knick knacks, furniture and homewares to give your place a bit of quirk and pomp; something different to what your neighbours or friends are likely to have.
Chris R.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Auckland, New Zealand
Perhaps that it’s because they can see I am not quite as cool as they are, or whether they can smell that I don’t have enough money in my wallet to buy any of their pretty things, but the staff in Republic just don’t seem to give me the time of day. That aside, their store has some of the best furniture and home accessories(what my mum would call ‘tat’) in town. I am fortunate to live with an awesome landlord/flatmate who actually can afford the wares from Republic, and despite her not agreeing to some of the more unusual items(they wouldn’t fit the ‘theme’ of our house apparently) I love to come here to help spend my rent
Jess D.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Auckland, New Zealand
I do like to stop in here from time to time to have a browse and a window shop, but that’s normally where I leave it… …The products are, in general, horribly over-priced, even by Ponsonby standards. They have lovely candles and homeware, as well as larger-ticket pieces of furniture for the home. The store always smells lovely and everything is displayed well. There must be a market for them, unfortunately it’s not me!