Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, November 6, 2023
A market, eatery and retail destination in the heart of Hamilton East opened its doors to the public over the weekend on Saturday, November 4, 2023, with fun activities, great food, a buzzing retail space, Face painters, Colouring-in competition for children, Opening specials and deals, and Live performances through the weekend.
Situated on the popular Grey Street in Hamilton East, ‘Made’ will provide an opportunity to house the best of Hamilton’s local businesses. It will be a first-of-its-kind retail precinct in Hamilton, offering a mix of produce markets, eateries, bespoke retail, and light industrial and commercial spaces.
This mixed-use development will be designed to focus on community interaction and connectivity to Grey Street and the City Centre via the river paths and surrounding streets.
Trading six days a week, with ample customer parking, secure bike storage and accessible public transport on its doorstep, Made promises to be an inclusive and eclectic environment, welcoming Hamiltonians to enjoy Waikato’s best offerings, with a special highlight- views of the Waikato river.
An urban food court sits high among the native treetops and overlooks the Waikato River below. This is a feature that drives Matt Stark, Director of Stark Property and he wants to celebrate it. “We have been linking the river through some of our developments and to build a development like this, that reaches out to the Waikato River and that everyone will have access to, is incredible for us.”
The Grey Street building has something for everyone, including sweet treats, fine and casual dining, clothing and cosmetics, eco products, drinks, karaoke, designer goods, and a massage place.
The weekend opening saw more than 5000 footfalls and that has carried on to Monday, when several visitors headed over to explore the newest address in town, a trend that is likely to continue for a while, with Christmas providing a perfect excuse to explore, indulge and splurge, especially after the shopping lists are all drawn up.
How Made came to life
Made is owned and operated by Stark Property which has developed and curated the Made site, delivering a design focused on community and enabling visitors to connect and enjoy one of Hamilton’s greatest offerings under one roof, close to similar business models which are operating successfully across Australia.
Beginning as the Arawa Building, and most recently the Waikato Regional Council, Made Building has survived many transformations to become a diverse home to a bustling hub of retailers, producers, chefs and entrepreneurs.
“The Waikato has always been the country’s food basket, but we have never really showcased it,” Mr Stark said. “The hope here is to get closer to the maker and creator. That was part of the vision from the start.”
Presenting several local businesses including Duck Island Ice Cream, Mama’s Donuts, Volare Bread and Grey Roasting Co. will be the highlight of the precinct, with a unique concept space called ‘The Larder’, which is an artisan store located within Made market that showcases a community of merchants specialising in handmade goods, fresh produce, beverages and more.
The precinct is divided into four sections, Mezzanine which includes fashion and lifestyle-type stores, Mess Hall which includes eateries and bars, The Sheds which includes creative studios and Made Market, which includes produce and food stalls.
Plan your visit by clicking the link here.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
