A 135-seat, three-screen boutique cinema will open in September.
It will be the second cinema under the Tivoli brand co-owned by Shane Jarrett and Karan Focas, who are moving to Golden Sands after opening their first cinema in Cambridge in 2014.
Wairakei mum Te Rini Atatagi said the area was "long overdue" for some more entertainment and dining options.
"Being a mother of five having a cinema just down the road will be great," Atatagi said.
"Hopefully there will also be some job opportunities for our local teens and young adults," she said.
New dining outlets will include a two-storey, family friendly gastro restaurant and bar headed by Luke van Veen and Matt Palmer.
Experienced restaurateur Deniz Bektas will open a Mediterranean restaurant called Grill and Green, while Bishnu Aryal will open another instalment of his Great Spice chain of Indian restaurants.
Bluehaven developer Nathan York said Rise Artisan Bakery was a confirmed tenant, along with health and beauty outlets and other service retailers.
The company also hoped to sign on a modern cafe for the high-profile corner spot.
There will also be 114 new carparks on the site, which is across the road from stage one of the Excelsa development, home to a small supermarket, cafe and health services.
Papamoa East resident, real estate agent Jeremy Cunningham, said the area would become a "social hub" for the wider neighbourhood.
Pete Reynal-O'Connor, who has lived in Papamoa East for more than 14 years, said the plans were "a good fit" for the area's "cosmopolitan demographic".
"It's all going to add to the seaside feel of the place."
Two young couples living in Golden Sands around the last 18 months - renters Lauren MacKenzie and Henry Ederveen, and homeowners Sam and Jenna Preest - said they were particularly looking forward to the new dining options.
Excelsa development
Stage two - opening August-October
- Tivoli Cinema
- 'Grill and Green' Mediterranean Food
- 'Great Spice' Indian Restaurant
- Gastro Restaurant & Bar
- Rise Artisan Bakery
- 114 carparks
Stage one - open now
- Four Square supermarket
- Henry and Ted Cafe
- Unichem Pharmacy
- Papamoa Beach Family Practice
- Team Dental Papamoa
- 96 carparks