Curious shoppers strolled past in the new entranceway as a line-up of dignitaries talked positively about the long-term future of the Bayfair Shopping Centre in Tauranga yesterday.
Representatives of Bayfair owners, Tower Investments and AMP Capital Investors, property manager AMP Capital Shopping Centres, Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall and Tauranga
Mayor Stuart Crosby were present to celebrate the official opening of the $15 million refurbishment at the mall, built in 1985.
AMP Capital Shopping Centres managing director Brian Hynes said the refurbishment had created a more vibrant retail environment, adding that a shopping centre needed to be as individual as the community it served. "We like to think of Bayfair as a community hub."
Brent Buchanan, head of property for Tower, described how the mall had continued to grow - it now has 32,500sq m of retail space and is among the 10-largest shopping centres in the country.
"We have had a long association with Bayfair. It started 25 years ago and the mall doubled in size in 2002," Mr Buchanan said.
Another 1250sq m was added in the latest refurbishment to accommodate JB Hi-Fi.
Bayfair is the busiest shopping centre in the Bay and the new eastern entrance - which has taken out the cramped kink in the previous walkway - has already attracted more shoppers.
Bayfair manager Andrew Wadsworth said up to 4000 people a day were using the entrance, whereas before it was 2500 to 3000 a day.
Other new tenants include Bed Bath and Beyond, The Coffee Club, 123 Mart, and Fish N' Chip Trading Company.
