She said a further two tenancies had been leased, but she could not disclose who the tenants were.
Sutton said those stores would be opening in October, when the grand opening of the expansion was expected.
Mitre 10 Pāpāmoa, owned by Brian and Loretta Johnstone, is relocating and expanding into a 10,580sq m “mega” store in the Pāpāmoa East development The Sands.
Building consents totalling $12m had been issued for the new building, across two stages.
A Mitre 10 spokesperson would not divulge the project’s total value, citing commercial sensitivity.
The new store will open in September and the current store will close then.
The home improvement store has been at its Gravatt Rd site since 2005.
Chemist Warehouse and CityFitness would take Mitre 10’s place, spokesman for landlord Pokaka Properties Limited, Desmond Wai, confirmed.
The two businesses were expected to open early next year, after redevelopment of the site finished, said Wai, who is the director of architecture and property consultancy RCG and RCG Realty.
The building has a 3500sq m footprint, which will be divided into a 1072sq m chemist retailer and a 1478sq m gym.
Wai said another two retail tenancies would join them on the site in late 2027.
Mitre 10 Pāpāmoa is expected to move from Gravatt Rd to The Sands in Pāpāmoa East this spring. Photo / Kelly O’Hara
He told the Bay of Plenty Times the owners bought the site in August 2020.
Wai said redevelopment works were expected to start later this year.
“This development reflects the confidence that both property owners and national retailers have in Pāpāmoa’s long-term future.”
Stage one of the redevelopment involved internal subdivision, new customer entrances, and facade improvements. The second stage would deliver the two additional retail tenancies.
Wai said Pāpāmoa was one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing communities and one of the Bay of Plenty’s significant growth corridors. This created “strong demand” for quality retail and service offerings.
“National retailers are attracted to locations that offer sustained population growth, improving infrastructure, and strong long-term catchment fundamentals.”
Wai said retailers were looking beyond traditional city centres and recognising the opportunities in high-growth suburban communities.
He said the redevelopment would create employment opportunities during construction and ongoing operations.
Chemist Warehouse and CityFitness are expected to open on Gravatt Rd in Pāpāmoa early next year.
It would also increase local retail expenditure, improve access to health services, and support future commercial development.
Wai said Chemist Warehouse and CityFitness would provide “high-frequency visitation”.
The redevelopment’s cost had not been finalised.
CityFitness director of marketing and communications Gertrude Tevita said demand for a Pāpāmoa location was strong.
The gym would be open 24 hours a day.
Tevita said the layout and offerings were being finalised. Further details would be announced closer to opening.
There were four other gyms in Pāpāmoa Plaza and Fashion Island Shopping Centre.
Ben Van den Borst, who owns two pharmacies in Pāpāmoa, said he was looking forward to competition from Chemist Warehouse.
“Bring it on. Competition’s good.”
Van den Borst owns My Pharmacy Pāpāmoa – across the road at Pāpāmoa Plaza – and My Pharmacy Whitiora Health Centre in Pāpāmoa East.
He said his customers were loyal and his staff were “embedded in the community”.
“[Patients] who used to see me when they were little are now bringing their kids in to see me.”
Van den Borst said consumers and patients would be the winners with more retail options.
Chemist Warehouse was approached for comment.
Pāpāmoa ward councillor Steve Morris said the suburb was still light on retail offerings relative to its population.
“We are still underserved in my view, but it shows the strength of Pāpāmoa: as soon as one store is moving, two are coming in.”
Morris said supply was following demand and the numbers showed Pāpāmoa was an attractive retail destination.
“It continues to make Pāpāmoa a place where you can live, work, and play.”
He said the development of Te Tumu – a prospective residential development of 8000 new homes east of Pāpāmoa – would “kick” retail development into “second gear”.
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.