The public watches an All Blacks victory at Cornerstone Bar's original corner location. Photo / George Novak
Two locations, three expansions, and 21 years later, Cornerstone Bar has stood the test of time.
The family-owned Tauranga institution celebrates its 21st birthday this Saturday with live music and a DJ, to which current and former staff, as well as the public, are invited.
Taute Tocker first opened the Cornerstone’s doors in 2004, alongside ex-wife Beverly Mclean and daughters Amy, Jessie, and Ezra.
In the two decades since, the Cornerstone has survived and thrived through changes and tough economic times including the Global Financial Crisis, Covid-19, Tauranga CBD’s ongoing redevelopment, the current cost-of-living crisis, a name change, and a relocation.
The pub began as Kingsley Jones, but was soon renamed Cornerstone Bar for its corner site at 55-57 The Strand. It stayed there until 2018, then moved to 105 The Strand in 2018, when the original building was demolished.
Tocker said he and his family had experience across hospitality, finance, administration, and running their own business, but opening Cornerstone was “tough, humbling, and at times, a real test of our belief in what we were trying to build”.
He said the family were modern thinkers.
“We just try to create things.”
During the 2005 British and Irish Lions’ New Zealand tour, Cornerstone built a grandstand and brought in local kapa haka groups to perform.
“People started taking an interest because we were doing something different, and a lot of them would change from their regular drinking place and come to ours.
“That’s how we started building.”
From there, the family expanded their hospitality offerings.
They purchased a TAB bar, renamed it the Crate Bar, and sold it soon after.
Next was Cornerstone Bethlehem – now known as The Orchard – and then they transformed Usual Suspects into Za Bar, which became Manhattan Bar and Eatery.
“We’ve tried all these things, but we’ve come back to Cornerstone as the base. Cornerstone was holding everything together.”
For years, Cornerstone set up marquees for the Melbourne Cup, accommodating 10 to 12 tables of about 10 people each.
“It was a massive day,” Tocker said.
But times had changed, and health and safety rules prevented them from continuing the layout.
Major developments to Tauranga’s CBD also affected Cornerstone’s day-to-day operations.
Other suburbs have so much to offer, Tocker said.
“Outgoing areas have grown. You have a bar out at Pyes Pa, in Pāpāmoa, and Otumoetai,” he said, naming a few booming suburbs.
“They’ve got good parking, and then people will go there.”
Tocker said CBD parking was a massive problem for Cornerstone.
But the family were looking forward to having more people living in the city centre.
Apartments and villas in the $200 million-plus Elizabeth Towers were placed back on the market last month after being pulled in May 2025 because of “challenging market conditions, particularly off-plan, in 2024”.
Tocker said this was the hardest it had ever been.
“You’ve got to make cuts all the time, and you’re limited to how much you can put up the pricing of your food.”
Tocker said Cornerstone used to turn over $1000 a day just in the lunch period, but was now down to $200 or $300.
“You rely a lot on your weekends just to pick you up.”
To compete with nearby establishments, Cornerstone had a $15 lunch deal.
“That’s the only way you can operate. They do a $15 lunch around the corner, and another one down the road. If you don’t do it, customers walk straight past.
“That’s the name of the game.”
And what had the game taught Cornerstone?
Adaptability.
“You have to adapt to what the market is. Change with the times.”
Cornerstone had something on most nights, whether that was a quiz, poker, or music.
Tocker said hospitality establishments needed to be sure of what they were before going into business.
“You’re either a restaurant or a late-night bar. You’ve got to be sure of what you are when you go in.”
Cornerstone was a sports bar, then became a nightclub, but the emphasis was always on sports.
However, the biggest key to Cornerstone’s success was its staff, Tocker said.
“The majority of our staff have got our back. When times are hard, they look after your interests.”
He said the Cornerstone had staff who had worked for the business for years, and a lot of them came back after time away.
“We’ve got one fellow coming back now, after two or three years in Wellington.
“We feel like they’re our whānau.”
Current and former staff, with suppliers and family, would return for the Cornerstone’s birthday celebrations on Saturday.
Acoustic music kicks off at 5pm, live band Left Hand Break take over from 8pm to 12am, and the night winds down with a DJ from 12am to 2am.
Tocker said anybody should feel welcome to come and reminisce on the last 21 years of Cornerstone, and 21 more to come.
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.