Many Aucklanders say they are missing the " hippie" stall holders scattered around, giving a different experience than they could find in suburban shopping malls.
"Vic Park lost its point of retail difference - some people said it had lost its soul," said Bayleys retail leasing specialist Leah La Hood, who has been called in to lease 70 stalls in the outdoor part of the complex.
Understanding what customers wanted was essential as well as getting the right mix of tenants in hospitality and retail, said Ms La Hood.
The plan was for the high street retail brands to stay around the outer premises.
Stallholders, catering for the sophisticated tastes of Ponsonby people, would bring more foot traffic - giving retail tenants the confidence to be part of a "little village" with a lively environment.
"There is nothing in New Zealand like Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market and here is the only real building in New Zealand where you can authentically join retailers and outdoor stall holders."
The market will trade from 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday and the aim is to include street food, arts and crafts and artisan offerings.
A 10-minute walk from Ponsonby Rd or Sky City Casino, the century-old market's buildings, featuring a landmark 38m tall chimney, are the oldest example of a Victorian industrial building still standing in the central city.
The project for refurbishment and earthquake strengthening also added several hundred square metres of new floor space for food and beverage outlets on upper levels.
Of the 80 tenancies in the retail buildings, 10 are available for lease or sale. Fifteen offices and six food and beverage premises are leased.
Heart of the City centre manager Tania Loveridge said the market proposal had potential.
"Victoria precinct is a cool, fringey part of the city's creative industries and there are 26,000 residents in the city centre and tourists.
"Markets are social activators and drawcards - if it's done right and there is a point of difference."
Last year's Auckland mayoral contender John Palino, who set up Sono - a European-style country village market in the United States - said Victoria Park Market has some potential.
"There are around 7000 people working in that area and it is growing. Parking is difficult though."
Down at the market yesterday, the Weekend Herald sought the views of two women on a lunch break from a nearby advertising agency.
"It's very cool, a good revamp" said Caylie Roussel. "We've just tried a new pizza place and the sushi place is good as well. With the empty buildings, it needs a Sunday market."
"We are going to a sports store - there needs to be more shops and I'd come here for a market," said Aimee Tawhai.
In the Reloaded streetwear shop, opened three weeks ago, Antoinette Isles said the market could get busy and tourists were coming too.
"In my view, stalls would be great, as long as they were top quality."
The market is walking distance from 15 hotels or backpackers' lodgings and Ms La Hood said the stalls should have a focus on New Zealand-made products or those true to the country of origin.
Existing market operators say there is a danger of too many markets close together.
The central city also has the Silo Markets in the Wynyard Quarter when it is fine in summer weekends, and the City Farmers Market at Britomart on Saturday mornings through the year.
Parnell has the La Cigale French Market on Saturday and Sunday through the year and the Parnell Farmers Market is held at the Jubilee Buildings on Saturday mornings.
Market memories
1905: Brick buildings made for municipal rubbish depot opposite Victoria Park, City. "Destructor" burned rubbish to create electricity.
1980s: Derelict site developed for Victoria Park Markets following the successful Cook Street Markets of the 1970s and 80s.
2008: Stall holders lose sheltered CBD space when Aotea Centre Market closed.
2011: Victoria Park Market ceases trading after boom years of 80s and 90s and "festival style" market including T-shirts, sarongs, incense, and lines of cheap, cooked Asian food sellers.
2013: $20 million VPM refurbishment finishes, with creation of 80 separate shops for lease or sale. New tenants include Tom Tom, Libertine, Salash Delicatessen and Buttermilk Cafe.
2014: 70 outdoor stalls available for lease. Food stalls cost $75 a day, food trucks $150, and craft, artisan and produce stalls range from $30 to $50. Proposed to trade 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.
