Vendors ready, Hamiltonians ‘pumped’ as Made opens its doors

Saturday, 4 November 2023

Businesses are readying for a huge weekend as Made opens, with one tripling its usual breakfast treat prep.

Matt Stark’s creation Made, a boutique mall flagged as a new dawn for Hamilton East, opens on Saturday.

A crowd of about 700 - including Made makers, runners, and supporters - celebrated together on Thursday, ahead of the public opening.

Matt Stark said it was a humbling experience to finally open to the public.

A crowd of nearly 700 people were invited to a pre-opening ceremony on Thursday. Pictured is developer Matt Stark and his family at the ceremony.

He expected about 5000 people to visit over the weekend.

“It was quite cool this week to see the vendors … stocking the shelves and genuinely there was this buzz.

“That's been the most heartwarming thing about this…

Saturday is when the general public can get in to check out Made.

“We’ve had local, national, and even international interest.

“The coolest thing, however, is the local Hamiltonians are pumped and they feel a sense of real pride that it's happened in Hamilton.”

Oat Bros owners Cameron and George Downey have prepared 300kg of oats for opening weekend.

Inside the Grey Street building there’s something for everyone - including sweet treats, fine and casual dining, clothing and cosmetics, drinks, karaoke, designer goods, and massage.

In the Made Market area you’ll find Oat Bros - the ones who tripled their prep for opening weekend.

Stark Property director Matt Stark says it’s humbling to finally open Made’s doors to the public.

Brothers Cameron and George Downey usually prepare 100kg of soaked oats for t a week but had 300kg ready.

This will be their first “brick-and-mortar” shop after selling at beaches, farmer’s markets, and in Tupperware containers on demand.

Te Awamutu family-run business Expleo Butchery has a spot in Made. Pictured from left are Shawn Nicholas, Missy Nicholas, Will Nicholas, and Nells Nicholas.

Made was the perfect push for them.

Sawubona store owner Esther Gathambo is selling hand-crafted items imported from artisans in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda.

“We think it'll be good.

“It's always a bit of a risk signing a lease, but we're pretty confident that people are looking for something like this in Hamilton… it's been like a long time coming.

“There’s a lot of Auckland based companies and eateries down here now, which is really good and brings a lot of credibility.”

Little Lato owner Hannah Engelsman said they have gelato flavours on rotation at Made.

Expleo Butchery from Te Awamutu was also well prepared, with 1500 sausage rolls and about 80kg meat.

And Sawubuna has hand carved wooden kitchenware, handwoven baskets, loose leaf teas and more from South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.

Dave Murray’s Mr Twist is located in the Made Market.

Owner Esther Gathambo started her business to support African artisans and worked with over 60.

Alex Marie store owner Marie Hamilton is excited about her store’s new location.

It was big investment to open a shop in Made, but Gathambo was positive about the returns.

After the market comes the Mess Hall section, with local and national eateries.

Jahdiel Mason and Janny Haringa said the mall was beyond their expectations, with “just the right amount of pizazz”.

Auckland’s Little Lato was bringing about 450 different flavours of gelato to the Tron.

“I've got no idea how much we're gonna sell, but we've got a lot here,” owner Hannah Engelsman said.

“Because we have so many flavours, we'll be trying to rotate.

“Half of the range is always gonna be vegan and dairy-free.”

Newly-elected Hamilton East MP Ryan Hamilton was at the advance opening to support the “visionary guy Matt Stark”, as well as his wife Marie Hamilton.

Marie Hamilton’s brand, Alex Marie, was on the first-floor mezzanine section.

The store, previously called Home Sweet Home, had been on Grey Street for 38 years.

Marie Hamilton felt the move would bring more foot traffic and be a better fit for her clientele than a shop “in between kebabs and laundromats and dairies”.

“The same clientele that go next door (FOUND) will come here.”

Jahdiel Mason and Janny Haringa said the mall was beyond their expectations, “nothing too extreme, just the right amount of pizazz”.

“And this is really changing the map of Hamilton, I reckon,” Haringa said.

Mason owned a business in Hamilton CBD and said Made was going to be a good competition to the central shops.

“It's gonna be tough competition, but it’ll be a good one.

“I think everyone's so friendly, the business owners are all supportive of each other, that it's going to be fine.”