Opening up?
David Jones tipped for Newmarket
Staff at giant upmarket Australian department store chain David Jones have told a New Zealand retailer of plans to open in Auckland, according to a local source.
David Jones has made no official announcement about Auckland and only trades from Wellington.
But the insider told the Herald that the well-established Australian chain was planning to open its second New Zealand store on the former Levene Extreme site on Newmarket’s Broadway.
“David Jones has signed for Auckland. They are going into the new 277 development in Newmarket,” the local retailer said, asking for his name not to be used because he has a close working relationship with the chain.
“The interesting point will be filling the retail spaces around David Jones with other tenants. It’s signed and sealed but not been released to the media yet.”
He said he had been told by staff about two weeks ago. He was reacting to Monday’s Herald story announcing Kiwi Property planned to open department stores in its ever-expanding Sylvia Park in Mt Wellington.
The retailer said David Jones staff told him directly.
“I do not mind them coming to Auckland but their issue will be the same as Wellington — getting knowledgeable staff.
“They will give other stores a hurry-up. I have not seen any plans but the challenge will be to fill the other 70 shops or so. They start soon on the old 277 site with the rebuilding,” he said, referring to property owner Scentre Group which runs Westfield malls in New Zealand. Comment has been sought from David Jones. Scentre last year revealed its $640 million plans for Newmarket, sparking speculation about David Jones’ arrival. An investor presentation said Scentre would start work at Two Double Seven in the second quarter of next year, finish by the end of 2019 and indicated it would bring many new businesses to an expanded Westfield centre.
Key tenants included “a department store” but the document also listed Farmers, Countdown and cinemas as other new anchor tenants, a food court at the top level and 160 “new specialty retail stores”.