The upgrade is part of an overall $11 million redevelopment with retail, banking and office buildings still under construction.
Some critics will say Central Mall has killed the city centre by taking away businesses such as Farmers, and there is some truth in that.
However, there's no doubting the entire project is a success.
As Murray Patchell, a director of Hulton Patchell which manages the centre, said on Friday at the opening, the mall is a huge success story as it has come from a deficit of $800,000 to now being worth about $80 million.
There was a time when this piece of land was earmarked by Pukeroa Oruawhata Holdings for a locally owned casino.
The controversial project was shut down by a government moratorium on all new casino developments and, in hindsight, thank goodness it was.
Central Mall and the surrounding businesses have provided a missing link from Rotorua's retail experience.
Too many locals are getting their shopping fix at the likes of neighbouring Bayfair in Mount Maunganui. Although Central Mall has a long way to go before it can rival Bayfair, the upgrade is ensuring the 10-year-old facility is moving with the times to keep attracting top-notch tenants.
The improvements have come at a cost for some of the businesses.
It has taken 14 weeks to complete, proving testing for some of them that were forced to close for several weeks to allow for building.
Here's hoping a fresh new look will attract more shoppers into the area, to ensure they can quickly make up their lost profits.
