Auckland’s hugely popular Victoria Park Market is soon to include an outlet mall conglomeration of boutique retails shops as part of its retail offering.
The historic attraction market, which is open every Saturday and Sunday from 1000 to 1600 during the warm months commencing spring 2015, reopened for weekend summer trading in November last year after undergoing an extensive transformation and revitalisation.
Now, complementing more than 80 stalls and existing anchor tenants, the high-profile hub will extend its retail offering to include a number of reputable and high-quality wholesale and retail operators.
Bayleys leasing broker, Leah La Hood, who is managing the project, said this latest innovation would meet a gap in the central city retail sector.
“Victoria Park Market has a strong history as a market-style retail experience, and since the weekend stall reopened last year it has also offered an extensive food selection. Now we are adding a third layer to this exciting shopping experience,” she said.
“This project aims to create an outlet store of recognised and reputable retails brands within the central city. There are no other retail offerings of this nature in the CBD.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Victoria Park Market to become an outlet store destination such as Dress Smart, Silverdale, and Westgate, which perform very well. There is strong demand for a store like this in central Auckland, which as yet doesn’t exist. We intend to create the first such offering.”
“This retail contribution will be tailored to Auckland’s CBD audience by bringing together well-known wholesalers and importers offering discerning products.”
Bayleys Realty Group, Maritime Square, 4 Viaduct Harbour Ave, Auckland, New Zealand operators can sign up to be part of a three-month pop up store from September as the retail sector heads into the busy Christmas season, with the option of then taking up a longer term lease.
Shop sizes range from 22 to 204sqm to suit all retailers’ needs and each premise is secure, with a lockable door, as well as power and lighting. Prices are from $290 plus GST per week. Many operators have already expressed an interest in leasing premises within the market so spaces will be snatched up quickly.
In addition to its central city location, opposite Victoria Park and bordered by Victoria St West, Union and Drake Streets, the market also offers a very different experience to shoppers compared to conventional suburban outlet stores.
Built 100 years ago, the market is the oldest example of a Victorian industrial building still standing in the central city. The essence of the historically bohemian marketplace, with its character cobbled lanes and towering brick chimney, has been retained along with a new vibrant energy, following its multi-million dollar refurbishment.
“Throughout Auckland there are a multitude of competing markets, so we needed to offer a point of difference. We designed this market around the strength of its location in the inner city and one of the original markets for Aucklanders – choosing stallholders whose products are of high quality and that will appeal to the tastes of city dwellers,” pointed out La Hood.
“Those who know this much loved market will understand the opportunity this presents. This is a chance to grow their business within a popular Auckland attraction.”
Accompanying the initial three-month leasing period will be a marketing and events program onsite starting in September, creating a “hive of activity” in the area, according to La Hood.
The weekend market will grow foot traffic, benefiting commercial retailers within the whole complex.
