Thousands of customers gathered at Westfield Newmarket today as Scentre Group unveiled the final stage of its $790 million flagship Living Centre redevelopment, delivering a world-class destination for locals and visitors alike. With construction now complete, the grand reveal saw the arrival of Auckland’s first David Jones, a fresh food market including a new Countdown.

Scentre Group CEO Peter Allen said construction of Westfield Newmarket was completed on schedule and the curation of products, services and experiences on offer demonstrates the company’s customer-focussed strategy and evolution of shopping centres into Living Centres.

Auckland’s first David Jones opens at Westfield Newmarket

“Our purpose is to create extraordinary places, connecting and enriching communities. By leveraging our vertically integrated operating platform and expertise in development, design, construction, leasing and management, we’ve delivered on this purpose for our customers and created a world-class Living Centre to complement their unique lifestyle,” Allen said.

More than 50 new stores will open at the centre in time for Christmas, as well as New Zealand’s first COS store, and a luxury precinct housing more than 20 luxury and international brands to follow in 2020.

As well as the highly anticipated David Jones store, the centre further elevated its fashion and beauty offer with MECCA, Maje, Sandro Paris, Country Road, Witchery, Trenery, Forever New and more now open across levels 2 and 3. The return of Barkers’ flagship store and the first to market Politix strengthens the men’s fashion offer alongside Dr. Martens and Hype DC.

On level 3 next to Countdown, Westfield Newmarket opened The Market; a unique fresh food setting incorporating New Zealand’s best produce, a mix of local food providores; Taiping, Bird on a Wire, Red Rabbit Coffee Co, the first St Pierre’s K10 Sushi Train and Bowl and Arrow, to name a few.

Other openings across the centre today included: Majestic Tea Bar, Whitcoulls, Specsavers, Life Pharmacy, Phone Zone, The Beauty Bar and Parlour, Just Cuts, Shaver Shop. H&M will open on 12 December with Event Cinema featuring Vmax and Gold Class to follow in January.

Now firmly positioned as New Zealand’s premier retail and lifestyle destination, Scentre Group Chief Operating Officer, Greg Miles said the completion of the flagship redevelopment demonstrates the company’s commitment to listening to customers and delivering what they want in a Living Centre experience.

“Our purpose as an organisation is to create extraordinary places, connecting and enriching communities. We do this by staying focused on what our customers want and curating the best mix of retail products, services and experiences. With construction now complete, I’m proud to say we’ve delivered an unparalleled retail and lifestyle experience for our customers at Westfield Newmarket.

“Through our commitment to excellence, we’ve introduced over 10 first-to-New Zealand retailers, Auckland’s first rooftop dining and entertainment precinct and a number of first-to-New Zealand and first-to-Westfield services. All of this has culminated to a world-class Living Centre and today we’re thrilled to be handing it over to the community to enjoy in time for Christmas,” he said.

The evolution of Westfield Newmarket has seen the centre transform into a world-class living centre spanning five levels with an airbridge connecting the two ends of the centre. It now includes a rooftop dining and entertainment precinct, a fresh food marketplace, casual dining eatery, a tourism lounge, a first-to-market hands-free shopping service and a multi-level car park featuring valet. The Tourism Lounge presented by Alipay will open 2nd December, with additional retailer openings including luxury and international brands to occur in 2020.