Markets Twelve 21 in Rotorua: 14 stall holders get ready for business

Pinoy Tres Cuisine co-owner Leah Pepito is ready to build her family's food business. Photo / Andrew Warner

"Bring it on."

Those are the words of Pinoy Tres Cuisine co-owner and mother-of-three Leah Pepito who is excited to be a stallholder at Rotorua's new indoor market.

Pepito is one of 14 marketeers who have begun setting up for business this week.

Markets Twelve 21 - named for its location at 1221 Pukuatua St - is a 52-stall market and community space offering small businesses affordable rates, electricity, Wi-Fi, and free monthly marketing campaigns.

For Pepito and her husband Francis, the market was a dream come true.

The couple moved to New Zealand in 2009. However, they only began selling Filipino food in October via Facebook and at the occasional Saturday market.

"It was really my husband's idea," Pepito told Rotorua Daily Post.

"For him the food is about family and heritage."

Eventually, the Pepitos decided their business needed its own space.

That was when they heard about Markets Twelve 21.

"I couldn't believe it when I found out what we needed to pay for a stall," Pepito said.

"I thought she was talking about a daily price but it was the weekly rate."

The day after booking a stall at the market, Pepito quit her job at the New World cafe.

While her husband will continue to work in forestry for now, Pepito wants to give this business venture her all.

"We had to try it," Pepito said.

Lordes Clothing owner and designer Candice Kanapu. Photo / Andrew Warner

Lordes Clothing owner Candice Kanapu has been selling street wear with a conscience on Facebook while working a full-time job.

"I make and design everything myself," Kanapu said.

Her brand is an acronym for Love Our Rangatahi Drive Encourage Succeed. All Kanapu's designs are inspired by the future Aotearoa's young people.

Kanapu sees her market stall as the next step in a longer journey.

"I just want to grow. I'm just so grateful for the opportunity to have this space."

Arts Village Cafe and Hello Stranger Cafe owner Bianca Nieuwboer (left) and Dion Hose are ready to open a third cafe. Photo / Andrew Warner

For Arts Village Cafe and Hello Stranger Cafe owners Bianca Nieuwboer and Dion Hose the new market is an opportunity they couldn't miss.

"Why not?" Hose said.

It took them two days to decide to get a stall.

Nieuwboer and Hose have two successful businesses and a nomination for Outstanding New Establishment from this year's Rotorua Hospitality Awards under the belt.

They see Markets Twelve 21 as a new kind of experience.

"It'll be neat to see the different styles of people and business in [the market]," Hose said.

Nieuwboer said she was keen to see how quickly the markets would grow.

Markets@Twelve21 business development executive Julia Haira is excited for what is in store. Photo / Andrew Warner

Markets Twelve 21 business development executive Julia Haira told the Rotorua Daily Post in May she believed the market could breathe new life into the CBD between the Rotorua Central shopping centre, and Eat Streat.

About five weeks later, Haira is excited to see the progress that's been made.

"The time frame we set ourselves was ambitious but we're absolutely on track," Haira said.

"Seventy-five per cent of our businesses are startups. There is so much talent in this town and we are proud to be a platform for that talent to start trading."

But for Haira the Markets Twelve 21 story is just beginning.

"We have a further 19 spaces available to small business owners wanting to operate within Markets Twelve 21."

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard. Photo / File

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard said Markets Twelve 21 had many "pluses" to it.

"It's going to bring a lot of foot traffic and provide opportunities for embryonic businesses," Heard said.

"I know some businesses going in there who were at a critical stage because of Covid-19 and now are able to have premises."

Heard said the chamber would be supporting the market's launch at the end of the month.

"We're right behind [Julia]."

The market's grand opening is set to take place on July 31.

Markets Twelve 21 stalls will include:
Hello Stranger Cafe
Teariffic Bubble Milk Tea
Filipino Select
Baked
Tea and Happiness
Nōwā
PrintStuffNZ/PolyTeesClothing
Woven Starr Native Indigenous Alchemy
Kaewa Travel
Helen English Artist
Lordes Clothing
Pinoy Tres Cuisine
The Bamboo Shop
Rotorua Welldrilling