Opening date 1980s No. of stores and services 21 No. of floors 1 Number of stores and services 21 Developer ING Property | Management Colliers International No. of anchor tenants 3 Total retail floor area 2 ha Number of anchor tenants 3 Owner ING Group | |
Location Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand Similar Westfield WestCity, LynnMall, Sunnyvale Railway Station, Westfield Albany, Southmall Manurewa | ||
Waitakere Mega Centre is an integrated bulk retail shopping centre, located in Henderson, a major suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, on Vitasovich Avenue approximately 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) west of the Auckland CBD immediately adjacent to Westfield WestCity. The centre is configured in 4 freestanding blocks and draws from substantial undercroft parking facilities.
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History and development
In 1994, Wellington-based Waltus Investments acquired the site, then known as Waitakere Plaza, which contained Kmart, Foodtown, four specialty stores and a food court. In April 1997, Waltus committed to a NZD $5.2 million expansion and refurbishment of the centre, with the intention of turning it into a niche bulk retailing centre. The development, funded by bank loans, was based on the needs of the two new anchor tenants, Briscoes and Rebel Sport, who had just signed nine-year leases. The work was completed in 1998.
In November 2004, Urbus Properties, an NZSX-listed property company formed from the Waltus syndicate in May 2001, commenced a $14.5 million refurbishment, and renamed the site Waitakere Mega Centre. The impetus came from the departure of anchor tenant Foodtown, who had complained that the centre could not compete with Westfield WestCity. The redevelopment, which took place over 2005 and 2006, saw the centre modified to a U-shaped design with the shops facing onto car parking, in line with other centres at Mount Wellington and Albany. The original 6,733 m2 (72,473 sq ft) Kmart store was demolished and replaced with 153 car parking bays, and Kmart moved into a 4,926 m2 (53,023 sq ft) new-format premises. An additional 6,229 m2 (67,048 sq ft) of retail space was added in the expansion. On 24 June 2005, ING acquired Urbus Properties, becoming New Zealand's second-largest listed property vehicle.
As at 31 January 2007, the centre was valued at $39,991,000 NZD.
Transport
The centre is accessible via the nearby Henderson Train Station and by bus services from Britomart Transport Centre and New Lynn Train Station.