Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opening Commercial Bay on Thursday 11th June 2020. Image by Anna Kidman.
Long awaited retail precinct Commercial Bay was officially opened on Thursday 11th June by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Auckland mayor Phil Goff, Owner of Precinct Properties’ CEO Scott Pritchard and members of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in attendance along with a crowd of over 300 people. Commercial Bay had been in development for 8 years and under construction for 4 years with the amazing new $1b retail precinct opening of late March delayed until June because of the nationwide lockdown.
“We are immensely proud to open Commercial Bay, an outstanding retail precinct that will redefine Auckland’s city centre and play an integral role in its ongoing revitalisation,” says Precinct Properties’ CEO Scott Pritchard. “We set out with a clear vision to create a world-class waterfront destination on par with other gateway cities and we are proud to have achieved this, thanks to the commitment of our team and project partners. Despite the extraordinary circumstances we are opening under, I am extremely delighted to welcome Aucklanders and visitors to a new and exciting part of the city where they can shop, eat, drink and experience all Commercial Bay has to offer.”
Commercial Bay offers over 120 retail outlets across fashion, food and beverage, beauty and specialty retail with some local favourites and new international brands in the curated mix of stores. Among the New Zealand fashion brands are stores from Twenty-seven Names, Ingrid Starnes, Elle + Riley, Yu Mei, Federation, Asuwere, Flo & Frankie, Nicole Rebstock, Rodd & Gunn, Storm, Superette, 3 Wise Men, Barkers, Edmund Hillary and more. With plenty of options for both men’s and women’s clothing and accessories. Each store has been fitted out to the highest standards with some clever installations and beautiful interior designs like the wavy blue rails that weave around Ingrid Starnes to the lush pink walls at Nicole Rebstock which showcase each brand’s latest range in a creative way.
Edmund Hillary’s Commercial Bay store.
“We are incredibly proud to support our local businesses as well as first-to-market retailers as they open after a challenging few months. During this crucial time as New Zealand moves to restart its economy after lockdown, I encourage people to support these retailers and food operators,” adds Pritchard.
There’s also some favourite Australian brands like R.M.Williams, Aje, Lorna Jane, Veronica Maine, Wittner and newer label Husk from designer Kirrily Johnston offering their latest collections in fresh new stores too. While international brands Calvin Klein, Furla, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Kookai, Scotch & Soda and COS make up the rest of Commercial Bay’s strong fashion offering. The COS store is a modern two level space offering men’s, women’s and children’s clothing in keeping with it’s clean European aesthetic while the Kate Spade store is colourful and offers the brand’s optimistic brand of accessible luxury.
Alongside the brilliant selection of fashion stores are some leading beauty retailers too with gorgeous new stores from Dior and MECCA. There’s also an array of beauty treatments on offer with salons from Skin Institute, Skintopia, Loxy’s Hair Boutique and Art of Nails available on the second floor.
After you’ve shopped (or before) there’s a huge array of food outlets to try with Harbour Eats on the second floor offering popular favourites like Burger Burger, Fatimas and Bird on a Wire alongside exciting new eateries like Ahi by Ben Bayly (opening in August) and Ghost Donkey. There’s a huge selection of food and beverage outlets with more spread thoughout Commercial Bay too like Bluebells Cakery which has a sweet little spot tucked away on the ground floor.
Commercial Bay is open now and located at the bottom of Queen Street in Auckland’s CBD, with retailers open daily between 9am and 6pm, and Harbour Eats open from 10am until 10pm.
Twenty-seven Names Winter 2020 campaign image from their collection available now at Commercial Bay.
Commercial Bay has a laneway design similar to international cities like Melbourne.
Interior of R.M.Williams’ Commercial Bay store.
Images by Anna Kidman and supplied.