The smiles said it all. Thirteen years after the process to open a Mitre 10 Mega in Queenstown began, and four years after a resource consent application was lodged, the tills have started ringing at the multimillion-dollar shop in Shotover Park.
Owner Jason Smith said it was satisfying to finally have the 8000sq m development open, with doors now shut at the former Mitre 10 store in Remarkables Park.
''We dreamed up this plan a long time ago and it's great to be able to open the doors ... and deliver on the vision we've had for our customers.''
All 40 staff from the previous store had relocated to Shotover Park, with up to 80 to be employed at the new site.
Staff worked until late Sunday to get the store ready for its soft opening yesterday, with stock still arriving on site, which also includes a drive-through, a garden centre, a Columbus Cafe and a children's playground, which was still under construction yesterday morning.
The range on offer at the new store had ''effectively tripled'', Mr Smith said.
It is the 39th Mega store in New Zealand and Mitre 10 chief executive Neil Cowie said it was an ''exciting and significant expansion'' for the co-operative.
''It's incredibly well placed to service a region that is experiencing the second highest year-on-year population growth in the country.
''Construction is booming as a result and $250 million worth of private and public construction is taking place over the next year.
''I take my hat off to the Smith family as well as to Paul Reeve, the store's general manager, and his excellent team.''
The first sod was turned on January 5, with the build led by Naylor Love.
Former long distance runner Dick Tayler, who won a gold medal in the 10,000m at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, would be the special guest at a ''tradies opening'' tomorrow night, ahead of the store's official public opening on Thursday night where, instead of a ribbon, Mr Smith would ''cut the plank''.
