May 2026

Eleven ghost letters still readable in the plasterwork above Heretaunga Street West. BLACKMORE'S. WADE BUILDING. ESTAB. 1878. The businesses are gone. The names are still up there.

The case for restoring WestSide's Art Deco facades. The HDC Façade Enhancement Scheme. Alan Passchier. The buildings that were built in a hurry and turned out to be the best things the city ever made.

Hector Jones (est. 1914). The Line. F.W. Liley. Colab. Hustle Surf. Kupa. VietThai. Kami Sushi. The argument that WestSide is the most interesting four blocks in Hawke's Bay right now.

Steve Nathan's two-time founder story. How TimeHub is solving retail scheduling for small operators. Why WestSide is the right place for it.

SoHo. Shoreditch. Ponsonby. The eight stages of urban revival — and where WestSide sits in that pattern right now. The Line's Southern Node. 200 West City Living. The laneway.

Alexander's Apparel. Suzelle Lingerie. Rick's Island. Flex Fitness. Four businesses on one strip that cover your wardrobe, your body, your fit, and your Friday.

Seven grooming specialists within four blocks. Freshy Barber. Lien Lashes. Mphosis. Urban Retreat. Anna's Beauty Lounge. Shampoo Plus. Lili Beauty. The full stack, all on one strip.

Gijón, Spain and Hastings, New Zealand. Both rebuilt from catastrophe. Both carrying Art Deco in their bones. A draft sister city agreement co-signed by Ada Crow (Gijón) and MintFace (Hastings) through The Line.

23 gifts. Eight buyer profiles. Beauty, fashion, experiences, food, art. From a $45 brow tint to a $399 Noble Wilde jacket. Everything on one strip. Mother's Day is Sunday 10 May.

12 trucks confirmed. Last Thursday of every month. 300 West Laneway. Wear a hat, unlock deals from every truck. Indulgence Catering, Roosters Roadie, Shani's Rib Truck, Dipped Strawberries, Lulu's Soft Serve and more. Already oversubscribed — waitlist open for new trucks.

Live bands aged 16–18 in the 300 West Laneway every Thursday in May. Free entry. All ages. The laneway between Hustle Surf and The Line. Young musicians, real crowd, real stage.

Every business on Heretaunga Street West has a free listing on hastingscbd.nz. Claim yours to access member benefits. Upgrade for full promotional access and editorial coverage. If you haven't claimed yours yet — it already exists.

A full article on the street's history — ghost letters, earthquake rebuild, Art Deco architecture, key buildings — submitted to Wikipedia with nine original photographs and full citations from the HDC Heritage Inventory and Hastings District Libraries Recollect archive.