Tauranga Crossing development midway through Stage Two leasing campaign

The second stage of the Tauranga Crossing development in Tauriko is now midway through its leasing campaign and is due to open in April next year.

Once completed, there will be 90 new stores and restaurants and a 1000-seat, six-theatre Event cinema complex.

Stage Two is an enclosed shopping centre with a two-level cinema and food precinct and a two-level "fashion galleria".

Tauranga Crossing chief executive Steve Lewis said there would be international, national and local brands at the centre and some of those will be announced later this year.

The centre will have retailers not currently operating in Tauranga, he said.

Lewis said on the ground level of the cinema and food precinct there will be eateries and restaurants and adjacent to that, a large quarter-acre garden with art features.

On the upper level, next to the cinema and overlooking the garden, there will be more restaurants and al fresco dining.

"So that's really going to add to the buzz and the atmosphere of going to the movies."

By the time Stage Two, which has been designed by Warren and Mahoney Architects, opens there will be 1500 car parks, with many in multi-decks and 300 covered.

"After Stage Two we expect to develop future stages, and we will ultimately be, once all stages are completed, one of the biggest centres in the country and the largest in the Bay of Plenty," Lewis said.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the road, Gilmours will open in the next few weeks and Farmers will open in the third quarter of this year.

Stage One of the Tauranga Crossing development – about 20 stores and food outlets – opened in 2016 and included The Warehouse, Pak'nSave and Noel Leeming.

Pak'nSave owner-operator Jon Morrison said his business had been doing very well since the opening and had exceeded expectations "which is really nice to see".

"We've had a lot of customers, both local and out of town, shopping here," he said.

Morrison said the opening of Stage Two next year would only enhance that.

"So can't wait really."

He said a lot of Pak'nSave customers had been asking questions about the construction work and when the next stage of the development would open.

"A lot of customers do because they've seen it every time they walk in, they drive past it, and they can see it happening."

Morrison said there was a lot of excitement in the community.

"We expect to see some international brands, along with some national brands and some good food offerings to complement everything else that they're doing in there, including the cinema complex."