"I eat sushi all the time," Tarei said.
They said the wait was definitely worth it.
St Pierre's marketing director Nick Katsoulis said this was the biggest store opening he had seen.
"The line coming through is like a continuous carousel."
He said someone had passed out in the line, but they were already ill and had been looked after by the police.
"So many people have asked when we were opening in Rotorua.
"We are glad to finally be here."
The Rotorua Racco group is also at the store performing Japanese drums (Taiko).
St Pierre's is the second food store to open at Trade Central, with Pita Pit opening its second Rotorua outlet there earlier this week.
Stage two of the store opening will be in late February which will be the opening of
the bento bowl hot food department serving hot Japanese meals like teriyaki
katsu chicken and traditional Japanese noodles.
Kmart will open in the complex in April.
