COVID-19 may have caused a hiccough but The Precinct’s plans for opening a new licensed cafe and an indoor/outdoor food hub in central Wanaka are still on track.

Last week The Precinct’s 120m2 open air courtyard was finished off with planting, and internal fit-out work is proceeding at a pace to have the licensed cafe Wee Tart opened as planned in September - subject to approved consents.

The Precinct, on Helwick Street, is the Wanaka CBD’s newest building, housing retail, personal service and hospitality businesses. It is the inspiration of Steve Norman and is managed by his daughter Mel Norman.

Mel said the Wee Tart cafe will specialise in “cheap and cheerful Kiwi food” which can be enjoyed in the adjacent courtyard and the 150m2 rooftop garden. The whole area is licensed until 10:00pm.

The Market will be located across the courtyard from the cafe. Concept drawings for the spacious (115m2) area reveal four to five 12m2 individual food kiosks, each with space for its own kitchen/preparation area and customer service operation, with shared seating and tables spread over an enclosed 60m2 expanse, plus access to the courtyard and rooftop garden.

The artist’s images of The Market space and individual kiosks are conceptual only and can be adapted to meet the needs of each kiosk lessee.

Mel has already had interest from various food providers, from as far afield as Dunedin and Bannockburn, attracted by the opportunity to lease a small space but reap the benefits of a much larger dedicated customer area in central Wanaka.

She said they were looking for diversity, perhaps an international flavour but not the “bain marie” style of food typically found in a shopping mall’s food court.

“Ideally we are looking for a very diverse group of tenants who can work together cohesively [and] offer something new and interesting to Wanaka,” Mel said. “We’d love to get someone local,” she added.

The Precinct will maintain control of the overall look and theme of the shared market space, providing its seating, lighting, furniture, bathrooms, design, planting, and the outdoor garden courtyard, she said.

“The final look of each kiosk will depend “on who ends up renting a space, as they will fit it out depending on their brand design, and we will help them achieve the look,” Mel said. “We are very flexible and the leases will be short term or long term depending on what the tenant is looking for.”

Mel also hoped to connect the back of the courtyard with the nearby Bullock Creek walking trail which, with dual access, would encourage a flow of people through The Precinct.

The plan is to open The Market around November this year and have “a practice run before summer - trying to get it going before January,” Mel said.

IMAGES: Supplied