Westfield Newmarket set to open
Auckland’s Westfield Newmarket will open its first 40 stores at the end of this month.
The $790 million flagship living centre has been under construction for two years but will finally open its doors on August 29.
The mall will open with a new Farmers store, Chemist Warehouse and Australian furniture retailer Coco Republic’s first New Zealand store.
Shops including Kathmandu, Rebel Sport and EB Games will also be part of the initial launch.
Over coming months several Australian retailers will be introduced to the mall including department store David Jones and entertainment diner Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq by the owners of Holey Moley.
Scentre Group chief operating officer Greg Miles said the rooftop dining, an ‘‘entertainment precinct’’, a fresh food marketplace and over 200 stores would also open by the end of the year. ‘‘What we’re delivering is a new benchmark for retail, dining and entertainment in the heart of Auckland – the best of the Westfield experience curated specifically for New Zealanders,’’ Miles said.
The opening of the new mall will be marked by four days of festivities, special offers and entertainment. The 4.5-hectare site will include two threelevel buildings connected by a sky bridge. Two supermarkets have been announced – Countdown and Asian grocery store Tai Ping. There will be about 2700 car parks.
The mall, dubbed a ‘‘living centre’’, has been inspired by Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney.
Scentre Group owns 41 Westfield malls in Australia and New Zealand and manages $54.2 billion in assets.