Rotorua's eastside is to get its own "dining hub" with four new restaurants among the six latest tenants announced for Lynmore Junction.
The majority of the tenants are new businesses for Rotorua, and between them are expected to create between 30 and 50 new jobs.
The new tenants for the Te Ngae Rd development are a specialist bakery, a licensed Turkish restaurant, Giovanni's Restaurant and Pizzeria, an Indian restaurant, gym Flex Fitness and a new dentist which will cover all dental and surgical dental procedures.
Developer Ryan Holmes said more than three quarters of the second stage was now leased and followed on from the success of neighbouring Motion Entertainment.
Mr Holmes said Motion Entertainment had seen "phenomenal" success and had almost surpassed the target figures for the first year in its first five months of operation.
The announcement of the tenants in the latest round of the development meant 1285sq m of stage two of the development was now tenanted with just 245sq m left.
Mr Holmes said the bakery was a new branch of an existing Rotorua business, while the rest were all new to town.
"All of a sudden the east will have its own dining hub."
Mr Holmes said getting the second stage almost full tenanted and to near completion was great.
The focus would now turn to the third stage, Mr Holmes said.
"Stage two should be finished by mid May."
Mr Holmes said the project had been a long time coming.
"Stage three is under construction and is another four months away."
The site was initially the home of Sealed Air. In 2015 demolition started to make way for the new development with a building consent issued in January 2016.
Aerial view of Lynmore Junction. Photo/Supplied
g the complex, said while the original intention wasn't necessarily to create a dining hub it had evolved that way.
Mr Sanford said there was one food tenancy still available.
He said it wasn't just about convenience food with most of the food outlets licensed restaurants.
Chef Deep Kumar, who is opening Giovanni's Restaurant and Pizzeria, said he was incredibly excited to be opening the restaurant - which had been a dream of his.
He said it would be good for the growing eastside population.
Mr Kumar plans to open in a few weeks.
He said his aim was to create a different dining vibe and offer a "real Italian experience".
Mr Kumar said once the restaurant was up and running he hoped to offer free cooking classes for kids - with a percentage of all takings going towards funding the classes as well as diners being given the opportunity to contribute.
Ryan Holmes, left, and Leith Swinney at Lynmore Junction. Photo/Ben Fraser
nvolved with the project development of Motion Entertainment and said the adjourning centre was the perfect place to open the gym franchise.
Mr Swinney said he was one of the first to sign on at the new complex, almost two years ago.
He felt the gym fitted well with the feel of the complex and would offer 24-hour access, Les Mills classes, a supplement bar and free fruit, as well as high-end gym equipment.
"It just complements what is here. It's a good offering."
He hoped to have the gym open by the end of July, with membership interest already proving promising.
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said she was pleased to see the activity happening and the premises filling up to help complete the development.
"It's good to see there's demand for these tenants who obviously see Rotorua as a good investment and bring some additional jobs to the district."
THE NEW TENANTS: - An Indian restaurant - A Turkish restaurant - Giovanni's Restaurant and Pizzeria - A specialist bakery - Flex Fitness - Lynmore Junction Dental Care
TIMELINE 1979, Holmes Group buy land on Te Ngae Rd. Holmes Group business sold in 2000 and buildings leased to Sealed Air Corporation. December 2012, Holmes Group applies for resource consent. April 2013, tenant Sealed Air announces it is looking to consolidate its Rotorua and Hamilton sites. July 2013, resource consent granted for Lynmore Junction. September 2014, Sealed Air vacates site. December 2014, Ryan Holmes announces vision for Lynmore Junction. July 2015, first tenants are unveiled for Motion Entertainment. April 2016, Construction of Motion Entertainment starts. November 2016, Motion Entertainment and BP open.
