The Downtown Shopping Centre was bustling today as shoppers snapped up last-minute bargains before the Auckland mall closed after 41 years.

It's being demolished to make way for a $550 million 36-level glass tower with tunnels for the City Rail Link to be built underneath the precinct.

Fay Blomquist, who has run her aromatherapy company Extracts from the mall for the last 19 years, said today was a big day for her.

She said it had been an emotional time letting go of her little shop.

Bargain hunters were spoilt for choice.

Claire Tynan of Beachlands scored some discount merino wool jerseys; sisters Katie and Lacey Barnett of Te Atatu nabbed two-for-one pairs of jeans.