Invercargill Central manager Kelvin Mooney was pleased with the figures and believed the city’s residents had really embraced the facility — even with just part of the centre functioning.
The first stage of the facility opened on July 14 with only 11 of the 40 businesses operating.
"The first few months were outstanding. It has exceeded all our expectations and that it is great. The local community really supported all the businesses which have opened."
The mall had an average of 13,000 people coming through the doors weekly, and in total 170,000 people had visited the space in the past three months.
Mr Mooney believed it was a good signal people were enjoying the experience as they were returning to it.
He also said that despite not being able to comment about how much money was traded in the stores, all of the business owners who were open had reported to him that they exceeded their initial targets and budgets.
However, he acknowledged there had been some challenges due to the centre’s staged construction. Contractors had been building in the other area of the facility while the mall operated.
"There is an awful lot of construction work, building noise and things that have to be completed and signed off while we are open and trading," he said.
"So it has been a bit of a trade-off between construction vs retail at times, but it did not affect or impact anybody significantly."
Mr Mooney said stage two, with more stores and some eateries, was on track to be officially opened at the end of next month.
The whole complex will be ready by February, he said.
He believed the new features being added will bring even more people to the centre.
"By Christmas it will be a fantastic place."
