The highly-anticipated Auckland Downtown shopping and hospitality neighbourhood Commercial Bay is almost complete and the announcements of retailers heading our way just keeps getting better and better. Lots of exciting new shops and restaurants are opening their doors for the launch of Commercial Bay, set to delight shoppers and foodies alike.
Commercial Bay will place an unprecedented spotlight on local design with the opening of Little Queen Street, a retail laneway showcasing a selection of notable homegrown fashion and design labels.
The name, Little Queen Street, is a reference to the city’s past and reinstates the original laneway of the same name. Auckland’s history is honoured with the use of reclaimed materials from the original Commercial Bay site including bricks and marine piles from the original Queens Wharf. These materials are cleverly incorporated into the design by architects Warren & Mahoney.
The latest announcements of international and local retailers coming to Commercial Bay are:
- Wellington-founded Yu Mei, an understated leather goods brand crafted from premium New Zealand deer nappa. It will reside in Little Queen Street
- Cashmere designer Elle + Riley
- Limited-edition womenswear designer Ingrid Starnes
- Kiwi shoe fashion favourite Nicole Rebstock
- Aotea, a natural, sustainable skincare
- Asuwere, a menswear clothing label
- Premium lifestlye brand I love Ugly
- Edmund Hillary, a premium New Zealand lifestyle clothing label inspired by Sir Edmund Hillary, one of our greatest heroes
- Homeware design company Città
- Candle and home fragrance brand ECOYA
- Kiwi fashion and homewares retailer Flo & Frankie
Already announced:
- French fashion labels Sandro and Maje
- American handbag and accessories label Kate Spade New York
- High quality menswear label Hugo Boss
- Leather goods brand Furla
- Australian designer Wittner Shoes
- Dior Perfumes and Beauty (first boutique in NZ)
- French skincare and beauty brand L'Occitane
- MECCA (will meld together its existing Cosmetic and Maxima concepts at its new location)
- Brittain Wynyard will open the first of its new footwear concept, Solect, retailing a range of premium brands.
- Kiwi fashion institution Federation
- High quality menswear label 3 Wise Men
- Iconic mens fashion label Barkers
- Boutique footwear brand Scarpa
- Hair specialist Loxy's
- Designer fashion retailer Suprette
- Kiwi menswear label Just Another Fisherman
- H&M (already open)
- High end menswear Rodd & Gunn
- Hipster fashion and accessories label Hershel Supply Co.
- Footwear specialty store Solect
- Storm, Superette and Scarpa will also be located in Little Queen Street.
- Australian streetwear brand General Pants Co, selecting Commercial Bay as its third New Zealand location
- Fellow Australian retailer Husk will bring its unique mix of both self-labelled and well-renowned apparel, homewares, art and jewellery to Commercial Bay
- Making its central Auckland debut is Australian activewear brand, Lorna Jane, which has developed a cult following on both sides of the Tasman
- Premium Australian brand Aje, offering a curated mix of effortless essentials and statement occasion pieces
- London-based fashion brand Cos will thrill minimalists around the city of sails - the brand is known for its stunning minimalist-inspired women's, men's and children's collections. The store will span across 548 square metres and two floors and will be fit with locally designed furniture that incorporates the COS design aesthetic of modern, timeless and functional
- Iconic American clothing brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger with their first New Zealand standalone retail stores at Commercial Bay
- Parisian-infused chic womenswear brand Kookai, as well as more leading local fashion talent including ethical designer twenty-seven names. Icebreaker, Storm, R.M. Williams, Asics and Rip Curl
- Natural health brand Harker Herbals
- Luxury nail salon Art of Nails, haircare store Shampoo and Things, men’s barber Gentry, skincare salon Skintopia and Lovely By Skin Institute will open its fifth retail store in Commercial Bay – its first store in the city centre
- Dutch retailer Scotch & Soda set to open its first New Zealand store
Scotch & Soda Director Peter McWhirter said, “Commercial Bay presents the perfect opportunity for us to open our first flagship store in New Zealand. Scotch & Soda stores all breathe the same spirit of creativity that we pour into our collections. We work with the history and architecture of the place we’re moving into – absorbing the rich heritage into each unique but recognisable store design – and we are very excited to be part of Auckland CBD’s new home of fashion.”
Heart of the City's Chief Executive Viv Beck says Auckland is a city in transformation and Commercial Bay will be a significant addition to the city centre retail landscape.
"The range of first to market brands, and unique restaurants and bars coming to Commercial Bay will build on the strong point of difference that the city centre shopping and dining experience offers,” she says.
Today's new announcements bolster an already impressive line-up of first-to-market international brands and established local labels set to launch into the local fashion scene next year.
On top of its incredible fashion offering, Commercial Bay is set to include an aspirational mix of food and beverage including acclaimed restaurants and bars, beauty, and specialty retail – overall, the precinct will feature more than 100 retailers. With 95 per cent of space now committed, Commercial Bay retail will open in autumn 2020 and is located on lower Queen Street.