The Art Bunker was a local art gallery and somewhat of an institution in Titirangi, West Auckland, for many years. When the property, including a home at the back, came on the market in mid-2014 – owners Kylie Tietjens and Jase Robinson jumped at the opportunity to restore both the home and the “bunker” to their original glory.
That Little Shop opened to the curious public for the first time in December that year as a pop-up, re-opening for good in February 2015. While the shop has an online home, Tietjens finds most sales take place in-store, which is perhaps a reflection of her clientele. “I think a lot of my customers want to see, smell or feel the products in person. We are living in a very online world, but I’ve found there’s still a huge group of buyers that enjoy the whole experience of going into a shop, admiring the space and interacting with a person,” says Tietjens.