Macquarie Centre has opened its new Fresh Food Market, part of the first stage in AMP Capital’s $440 million development of of the North Ryde, Sydney shopping centre.
Bryan Hynes, MD of AMP Capital Shopping Centres, said the Macquarie Centre development will transform the retail offer and customer experience of the centre, and provide investment opportunity for AMP Capital.
“Today we have unveiled, ahead of schedule and on budget, 37 food and specialty retailers, 29 of which are new to Macquarie Centre.
“The centre will offer our customers a one stop shop for their food needs, with fresh food, specialty Asian food stores and market style restaurants options from local producers,” Hynes said.
Macquarie Centre is part of AMP Capital Shopping Centres’ $2.8 billion development pipeline, which includes major redevelopments underway at Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast; Perth’s Ocean Keys; and proposed at Garden City, Booragoon; and Karrinyup shopping centres.
Stage one of the redevelopment features a new Coles and Aldi Food Store alongside a refurbished Woolworths. It also includes a range of market style eateries such as Costis Seafood Market Macquarie, Inlakesh Living Foods, and F&L Gourmet.
Also revealed was a 21m curved digital panel, which will act as a new platform for advertising.
“We’re transforming Macquarie Centre into a leading contemporary urban centre, offering diverse experiences to the students, residents and workers in the area,” said Hynes.
The redevelopment responds to the strong growth in the Ryde region. With a total trade area of 337,770 people, expected to outlay $6 billion in retail spending by 2021, the north west corridor is considered the new capital of household wealth in Sydney.
The second stage of the project will be complete in October, in time for the Christmas shopping period. The centre will grow by around 38,000sqm to a total of 138,500sqm on completion, making it the largest suburban shopping centre in Sydney.
“When it is complete, Macquarie Centre will house a new fashion galleria featuring Australian and international designers and a two level David Jones, which will be the department store’s first new premises in Sydney for seven years.
“The centre will include a number of international, large format fashion brands as well as established local brands, aspirational fashion retailers, unique leisure and lifestyle retailers, and the best fresh food offering in the area,” said Hynes.
There will also be a fresh herb garden integrated into a bus shelter advertisement at the entrance to the centre on Herring Road where shoppers can smell and sample fresh basil, mint and rosemary.
