ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Ellis Avenue in Mt. Roskill has long been a quiet residential enclave – this has been undergoing silent change over the last couple of years. The once-quiet neighbourhood is suddenly a convenient shopping centre for Aucklanders who prefer to access services away from the hustle and bustle of busier centres on the main routes.
The famous jewellery, drapery store, Shingaar moved to Ellis Avenue from the City almost a decade ago. Owned by the established Rana family from Labasa (Fiji), the owners say the quieter location has been a revelation.
Ellis Avenue also has a general store specializing in Indian groceries, a character bookshop, and a bread shop with other conveniences in the pipeline. And enriching the customers’ experience in the silently flourishing enclave is indomitable barber, Nilesh.
Born in Madhi near the historically-significant city of Surat in Gujarat, Nilesh hails from a family of barbers. Both his father and grandfather were skilled masters of the trade. His father still runs the iconic family business in Madhi. In fact, in that laid back village setting everyone knows the Master Barber.
Nilesh arrived in Auckland in 2002. Over the past 8 years, the politely spoken barber has worked for 2 hair salons in Auckland. In each of these, he quickly built up a steady clientele base with his friendliness and obvious hair skills.
As he continued to attract pleasantly-satisfied customers in his stride, Nilesh decided to take a major gamble that every enterprising craftsman has to take at one time or another – to open his own barber shop, design it in his own way and become his own boss. That was the birth of Champion’s Hair Art at 19 Ellis Avenue, Mt. Roskill.
As the number of shops in Ellis Avenue continues to grow, visitors cannot miss Nilesh as he plies his trade with the usual welcoming smile that has become a trademark of this barber.
Ellis Avenue in Mt. Roskill has long been a quiet residential enclave – this has been undergoing silent change over the last couple of years. The once-quiet neighbourhood is suddenly a convenient shopping centre for Aucklanders who prefer to access services away from the hustle and bustle of...
Ellis Avenue in Mt. Roskill has long been a quiet residential enclave – this has been undergoing silent change over the last couple of years. The once-quiet neighbourhood is suddenly a convenient shopping centre for Aucklanders who prefer to access services away from the hustle and bustle of busier centres on the main routes.
The famous jewellery, drapery store, Shingaar moved to Ellis Avenue from the City almost a decade ago. Owned by the established Rana family from Labasa (Fiji), the owners say the quieter location has been a revelation.
Ellis Avenue also has a general store specializing in Indian groceries, a character bookshop, and a bread shop with other conveniences in the pipeline. And enriching the customers’ experience in the silently flourishing enclave is indomitable barber, Nilesh.
Born in Madhi near the historically-significant city of Surat in Gujarat, Nilesh hails from a family of barbers. Both his father and grandfather were skilled masters of the trade. His father still runs the iconic family business in Madhi. In fact, in that laid back village setting everyone knows the Master Barber.
Nilesh arrived in Auckland in 2002. Over the past 8 years, the politely spoken barber has worked for 2 hair salons in Auckland. In each of these, he quickly built up a steady clientele base with his friendliness and obvious hair skills.
As he continued to attract pleasantly-satisfied customers in his stride, Nilesh decided to take a major gamble that every enterprising craftsman has to take at one time or another – to open his own barber shop, design it in his own way and become his own boss. That was the birth of Champion’s Hair Art at 19 Ellis Avenue, Mt. Roskill.
As the number of shops in Ellis Avenue continues to grow, visitors cannot miss Nilesh as he plies his trade with the usual welcoming smile that has become a trademark of this barber.
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