Units still available at Gateway Home Centre

The Gateway Home Centre in Albany is 87 per cent leased and the last retail units are expected to be snapped up quickly by businesses with the centre's two major tenants now trading, says Adam Reynolds, leasing director of Symphony Projects.

There are only four retail units, each of around 500 sq m still available, which could be leased individually or as a block.

Reynolds says more than 10,000 shoppers visiting Freedom Furniture's newly opened outlet at Albany's Gateway Home Centre over the Queens Birthday weekend. "The Gateway carpark was crammed when the new store opened, attracting more than 3000 visitors a day," he says.

In addition to the few remaining retail areas, Symphony is looking to lease 1000sq m of modern, high-profile office space in the Gateway building with easy access and carparks at the front door.

Reynolds says Symphony Projects is committed to leasing this space and will work closely with potential tenants to overcome any current leasing issues faced by a tenant, including current lease liabilities, the costs of hard and soft fit-out, and incidental moving costs.

"Fit-out and design plans have been prepared to help prospective tenants visualise the potential of the premises," he says. "However, Symphony Projects would be happy to modify these plans or prepare new plans to suit tenant requirements, at no cost to a tenant."

A Mitre 10 Mega store, which dominates Albany's Oteha Valley Rd, and the Freedom Furniture outlet, comprise the centre's anchor tenants.

"The Gateway Home Centre has already reported positive sales since its opening and it was good to have such a dramatic increase in the number of customers over the last holiday weekend, with all the retailers benefiting from the increase in sales," says Reynolds.

The new Freedom store is described as "a world-class, full-concept store" and at 2700sq m it is the largest Freedom store to be opened in 10 years.

Debbie Ridling, managing director of Freedom New Zealand, says sales exceeded expectations over the four days of trading over the long weekend, with the Gateway Home Centre providing an excellent high-profile position for the new store.

Ridling says New Zealanders should be able to make design and style a part of their everyday life without paying a fortune for it.

"This is particularly relevant in these tough economic times," she says.

"We expect potential tenants that were previously hesitant to commit to a lease because of the economic climate, should now be quick to sign up, given the ongoing success of the centre," Reynolds says.

The Gateway Home Centre meets the demands of Mitre 10 Mega and Freedom for premises that have a high-profile position within easy travelling distance from their target markets, with plenty of carparks.

Other retailers in the centre include The Dogs Breakfast Trading Company, Nood, Beds R Us, Avanti, Artisans of NZ, and Retravision.

To add to the mix at the centre, Warehouse Stationery Ltd has leased a 1645sq m area on the second level for the firm's head office, which will bring about 100 staff to Gateway each day to work. The Warehouse Stationery expects to complete their fit-out and occupy the premises by the end of this month.

Reynolds says Gateway is easy for customers to find with a 500m frontage onto Oteha Valley Rd. With more than 600 carparks, customers can be assured of finding a park. The centre is designed to provide "a hassle-free shopping experience" and has a large interconnecting lift and stairs to all levels

The trade area of the Gateway Home Centre encompasses 319,000 people on the North Shore, western suburbs and further north to Orewa and Warkworth. Consulting firm Urbis' research shows the trade area includes a high proportion of families and home-owners with average household incomes 15 per cent above the New Zealand average. These characteristics support solid demand for spending, particularly on furnishings and other items for the home.