The store would open its doors for the first time at 8am.
Read more: Kmart Bethlehem opens
Mr Wadsworth said building the store had been an 11-month project which resulted in big changes to the centre. Line of sight between Countdown and Kmart was required, as the two stores were now the centre's anchor tenants . This required the reconfiguration of some of the roads.
"It's completely transformed the centre. It's completed the centre.
"We've got a couple of shops left still vacant, but we're looking to announce new retailers for those shortly. This place is going to be near capacity in a short time."
Kmart fan Nicole Thompson was planning to make a special trip to her favourite store today.
"I'm a Kmart addict, I love their stuff. It's become a joke between me and my friends to see who buys the most stuff there, we call it K'marte to make it sound a bit posher," Ms Thompson joked.
The new store would be much closer to her Otumoetai home than the Bayfair store, saving her a trip to the mall once or twice a week.
Kmart did not respond to requests for comment by deadline as its executives were travelling to the opening.