Auckland's Commercial Bay Draws 13 Million Visitors a Year

Ten years after demolition crews tore down Auckland's old Downtown Shopping Centre, the site has become a stunning example of what's possible when cities reimagine their public spaces.

Commercial Bay, the shopping and dining destination that replaced it, now welcomes 13 million visitors each year. The transformation replaced concrete walls and dark corridors with water views, open-air atriums, and pedestrian-friendly laneways that connect directly to Auckland's waterfront.

"It was garbage. Horrendous," says Matt Peters, an office worker who remembers the old center. "But when you walk through Commercial Bay now there's people everywhere, it's got everything you need."

The numbers tell an impressive story. Pedestrian cameras outside the H&M store captured nearly 2 million people walking past in just the first four months of this year. Between 10,000 and 12,000 office workers occupy five towers connected directly to the complex.

Scott Pritchard, Chief Executive of Precinct Properties, says the journey wasn't easy. Construction finished just as New Zealand's first Covid lockdown hit in 2020, forcing a delayed opening that could have doomed the project.

Instead, visitor numbers climbed from 10 million to 13 million annually. Sales jumped 5 to 6 percent compared to last year, with half coming from international tourists who've returned to New Zealand post-pandemic.

The Ripple Effect

The success is reshaping Auckland's entire downtown geography. Foot traffic data shows Commercial Bay's end of Queen Street far outpacing areas further inland, with some locations seeing half as many pedestrians.

Companies are following workers to better locations. Businesses want offices near quality retail and dining so employees actually want to come downtown, creating a positive cycle of activity and investment.

The site sits at Auckland's transportation heart, with buses, ferries, and trains all within meters. Future rail tunnels underneath will connect Commercial Bay to midtown and beyond, promising to strengthen the area even more.

Precinct Properties isn't done yet. The company bought the nearby Downtown Carpark last year and plans to add offices, a hotel, and residential spaces in partnership with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the local indigenous group.

What started as demolishing an unloved shopping center has become a blueprint for bringing people back to city centers.