New malls offer shopping bonanza

By Graham Skellern
Two havens for shoppers get into full swing over the next fortnight - giving Western Bay people more convenience and choice.
Fashion Island, comprising 20 specialist retailers at the Centa Max centre in Papamoa, will open for business on Wednesday next week.
The following week nearly half the stores at the new Gate Pa Shopping Centre will open their doors, including the New World Supermarket operated by former All Black Robin Brooke.
Like Fraser Cove and HomeZone in Owens Place, Fashion Island and Gate Pa have been designed as open-air shopping destinations instead of the more traditional shopping mall.
There is plenty of parking close by and shoppers will have a short stroll to the colourful line-up of stores that create a High Street feel.
"People are sick of parking 20 minutes away," said John Bougen, a director of Prime Retail that has developed the fashion hub opposite Papamoa's Palm Beach Shopping Plaza in Gravatt Rd.
"We are giving shoppers a full fashion mix and they can drive right to the door, making it convenient and comfortable for them," he said.
The best of New Zealand labels will be on display at Centa Max, with 17 fashion retailers catering for the different generations.
The latest addition is Meccano Men's Clothing, which is opening its second store in the Bay after setting up in the Bayfair Shopping Centre.
Fashion Island has one vacant shop but the developer is confident an opening soon sign will be attached to the door next to Hannahs before the official launch next Friday.
Across town, the $30 million Gate Pa Shopping Centre on Cameron Rd will be attracting customers for everyday shopping as well as browsing in different specialty stores.
"We've created a niche in the market as a convenience centre," said development manager Peter Williams, of Boffo Property.
"We've been careful about the retail mix to make sure the shopping centre becomes a destination."
The offering from 21 national and international retailers ranges from fast food and petrol (a BP service station) to electronics and a women-only gym operated by Configure.
Mr Williams also has one shop to fill and has already turned down three offers. "We are getting too food oriented and I want to get a general merchandise store to make the balance better," he said.
The western end of the shopping centre is known as the Fresh Corner, consisting of fruit and vegetable retailer The Fresh Market, Mount Maunganui seafood specialist Deli-ca-sea, Bakers Delight and Aussie Butcher, a competitor to Mad Butcher.
They will be opening in the week beginning May 22 along with New World Supermarket, Columbus Coffee, Health 2000 and JayCar Electronics.
The lights at the Gate Pa centre have gone on, with drive-through restaurant Red Rooster, an international chain in competition with KFC, opening last Saturday.
Michel's Patisserie will be serving its tasty delights by the end of the week.
Mr Williams said the second wave of shops will open in mid-June including Australia's Radius Pharmacy; United States-based Zeros Subs, which competes with Subway; Wendy's Old Fashioned Burgers; Hell Pizza; Total Food Equipment, the biggest store at nearly 600 sq m; and Blockbuster Videos.
The centre, which has 450 car parks, will be rounded off with a liquor outlet and neighbourhood tavern called Marble Bar, operated by the CornerStone owners David and Eseria Tocker.