Speculation over what businesses would be moving into the new 1131sq m property next to Bullock Creek had already identified a new Speight's Ale House and the relocated BNZ bank as likely tenants, and both those businesses were confirmed this week by project manager Iain Weir. They will jointly occupy the Ardmore St frontage of the building.
Filling the remaining space on the ground floor of the new building, in the "creek tenancy" on the eastern side, will be an Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining owned by Francesca and James Voza, who already operate a mobile wood-fired pizza business in Wanaka.
Three of the eight upstairs office suites have been leased, one to a new business in town and the other two to Wanaka companies relocating from other premises.
Mr Weir said it was "quite positive" to see the building already largely tenanted months ahead of its completion date in late October or early November.
"If you've got the right product, even in a difficult market, people want it."
Mr Weir said he was aware of some people's concerns that Wanaka already had too many bars and restaurants.
"On the face of it, you'd say there's enough now, but I don't think there's enough good ones, particularly for family dining, which is what these two will be."
He did not envisage the Speight's Ale House and Francesca's Italian Kitchen restaurants competing with each other.
"They both are food-oriented, but people like a bit of variety, especially visitors to town. They don't want to dine at the same place every night."
The building is on the site where the late Gra and Olive West's house stood until it was demolished in December. It was the last lake-front commercial development site available in Ardmore St and is believed to have sold for about $2 million last year to Ardmore Holdings (Wanaka) Ltd, a company directed by Ashburton accountant Ross Gibson.
