Fish and run a wharf cafe

Birkenhead Wharf is used by 14,000 commuters each month.

A cafe proprietor is being sought to lease a kiosk at Birkenhead Wharf - providing a food and beverage service to thousands of ferry commuters as well as locals.

"A good operator could build this up into a great business - fish and run a cafe at the same time," says Chris Beasleigh, JLL's head of retail, who is seeking expressions of interest in the lease closing October 20.

According to JJ Hong, JLL's North Shore retail specialist, around 14,000 people use the Birkenhead ferry every month - over 170,000 passengers a year.

"The kiosk has been leased in the past and the operator did well there," Hong says.

The 18sq m kiosk has a full kitchen with extraction unit, dishwater and sinks along with space for two people to work in tandem.

It has internal exclusive seating area of 16sq m along with external non-exclusive seating area of 60sq m.

Chris Beasleigh, JLL.

"People can use the outdoor seating on the deck and take in the fabulous harbour views," Hong says. "The landlord is keen to build another roller door to the side of the tenancy to create another counter.

"Auckland Transport is particularly interested to hear from retailers who can show their intention to support local suppliers and employ local people.

"It's a high demographic area, so a grab-and-go coffee and food vendor would have no problem attracting customers here. There are plenty of 90-minute carparks adjacent to the wharf and the area is popular with walkers, which will help the tenant boost their business outside of commuter hours."

The wharf features views of the harbour bridge and Auckland City.

Mark Lambert, AT Metro general manager, says the lease of this space at Birkenhead is part of Auckland Transport's retail strategy for public transport facilities.

"One of the key objectives of the strategy is to enhance the experience for our customers using public transport (Metro) facilities and to attract current non-public transport users to Metro facilities".

The area of Birkenhead East and Northcote South had a medium personal income of $39,600 as at the 2013 Census, compared to $29,600 in the Auckland Region and $28,500 in New Zealand as a whole.

The estimated 2014 purchasing power per capita for the area of Birkenhead East and Northcote South was $36,000; compared to $28,700 for the Auckland Region and $27,600 nationally.