After an eight-month delay, downtown Auckland’s new billion-dollar (yes, with a ‘b’) shopping and hospitality precinct Commercial Bay is due to open this week on Thursday, June 11.
You must know that Commercial Bay includes 18,000 square metres of retail space filled with laneways and open-air spaces. What that translates into is three levels of more than 120 retailers including a floor dedicated to all things food.
Fashion lovers must know that the brands include international labels Calvin Klein, Furla, Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Tommy Hilfiger as well as local brands 3 Wise Men, Federation, Twenty-seven names, Yu Mei, Nicole Rebstock and Storm.
Foodies are going to be pleased with more than 35 new bars and eateries to enjoy. Many are going to recognise familiar food outlets like Burger Burger, Bird On A Wire, Sunny Town, Best Ugly Bagels, Fatima’s and Uncle Tetsu’s but I’m really excited to try the slew of newbies that are going to be making their New Zealand debuts. The ones that I think you must know about are Liquorette (an Instagram-worthy drinking spot), Ghost Donkey (a fabulously named tequila bar) and The Poni Room (a seafood-centric eatery that proudly describes itself as rosé-centric).
The Commercial Bay precinct was meant to open back in March 28, which unluckily was days after the country moved into our Alert Level 4 lockdown. With the strong likelihood of us moving to Alert Level 1 this week (we’ll find out soon in a few hours), I for one am very excited that the opening of Commercial Bay is going to provide another much-needed boost to the economy post-lockdown.
You’ll find Commercial Bay at 7 Queen Street.
