Two thirds of retail space leased for new shopping complex

What the new shopping complex will look like. Graphic/supplied

Nearly two thirds of Rotorua's newest shopping centre has been leased but it's still top secret which new businesses are coming to the city.

The shopping complex will be at the Trade Central site and will be around the Kmart development.

Kmart will open in March or April and another 11 or 12 retailers will open in stores being built around the $20 million development.

The project will see a central Kmart entrance leading to the store at the rear of the site.

There will be two larger stores and nine to 10 other smaller retailers along the shop front either side of the Kmart entrance. Two larger stores of 1000sq m each will be to the right, next to Mitre 10 Mega.

Pukeroa Oruawhata Group general manager Peter Faulkner said one of the larger 1000sq m stores would be Bed Bath & Beyond and one of the smaller shops would be St Pierre's Sushi.

However, Mr Faulkner said he was unable to confirm five others which were signed up because they were still subject to commercial terms.

He said the level of interest had really picked up during the past six weeks, especially since building at the site had increased.

It was aimed to have all retailers, apart from Kmart, open for business at the site before Christmas.

Mr Faulkner has said previously the site would get a new name closer to the shopping centre opening which would better reflect the "convenience retailers". The new name would be a variation of the Trade Central name.

The facts
* Kmart to create about 100 jobs
* Other retailers to create at least 40 jobs
* Site to include Kmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, St Pierre's Sushi and existing businesses Mitre 10 Mega and Hunting & Fishing