Controversial as it was being called “The Trentham City Shopping Mall” the owners the Pelorus Property Group have reverted to the original name wanted by most Upper Hutt people and the complex will simple be known as “The Mall”

Centre Manager Mr Threaplton says Upper Hutt people almost universally refer to the shopping centre as “The Mall”

“Its part of the culture here, of living and working in Upper Hutt. Its a really consistent thing and we really want to pick up on that. The new owners (Trentham City Investments, an amalgam of the Austrailian Pelorus Group, private financiers, and the Gibbs Family Trust) felt it was time to return to the original name and get back to the grassroots of the community”

“There was a general belief naming a shopping centre after a suburb 10 minutes away was not the way to go. We feel the locals were right on this one”

Currently the mall sit at about half full with capacity for 45 tenancies. The goal is to be fully tenanted but 90% of the area is already leased, a figure directly resulted from long term tenure of the Warehouse and Farmers.

Further to the interests of the development group concept designs have been created for 2 high rise buildings, one above Hazelwoods and the other on the Criddles site, the empty Main Street site, result of the fire to the Hannahs and Hallensteins stores is to be replaced with a 500 square metre 2 shop construction. All of these will be marketed with the ambition to have them pre-leased before any construction go-ahead.

via The Leader