Reading International, Inc. announced it will commence work on the construction of the long-deferred Countdown supermarket in the company’s downtown Wellington complex.

The 37,000-sq-ft supermarket, which will be located on Wakefield Street, is expected to revive the city’s downtown area and trigger a $30 million revamp of Reading’s Courtenay Central cinema and retail complex. Site preparation works will begin in the middle of the year, a report from Business Wire revealed. The supermarket is expected to open in late 2017.

“We are thrilled to continue upgrading Courtenay Central, a key asset in our portfolio, and are honored to partner with Coundown, New Zealand’s leading supermarket brand,” said Ellen Cotter, chair and CEO of Reading International.

The company has appointed construction firm Naylor Love as head contractor for the supermarket. The redevelopment project will elevate the supermarket with parking underneath. With the revamp, Reading will also be using the vacant lot at the rear of the entertainment centre to expand and improve the retail layout, and refurbish the 10-screen cinema above.

The entertainment-themed retail center originally opened in March 2002 and is anchored by a ten-screen Reading Cinema, also operated by Reading International. All necessary town planning approvals have been obtained, and work commenced on the Tory Street car park in mid-January this year.