Tauranga’s Historic Village Welcomes New Restaurant

Tauranga — May 29, 2024 — Tauranga’s Historic Village is experiencing a wave of positive developments. The village is set to welcome a new restaurant, the Med Lounge & Garden, while existing businesses like Ichiban Japanese restaurant and The Village Barber are thriving. This marks a period of growth for the Tauranga community and the historic Village, promising more to come.

Here’s a rewritten version of the article, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and a more engaging flow:

Tauranga’s Historic Village Welcomes New Restaurant and Celebrates Business Successes

Tauranga’s Historic Village, a community facility owned and managed by the Tauranga City Council, is attracting new businesses and celebrating existing ones.The village,which draws over 230,000 visitors annually,is set to welcome a new restaurant and garden bar this winter.

Mitch Lowe, director of several entertainment companies, and his wife Ezel, owner of Nectar Sangria, are opening Med Lounge & Garden in June.The couple purchased the former Malka restaurant from Ariel and Mali Cottan and are renovating the space to create a unique dining experience.

“We wanted to create a bit of a destination,” Lowe told the Bay of Plenty Times, envisioning an indoor-outdoor themed space with private function rooms and curated music. He hopes the Med will become a local favorite, offering a “young, fresh approach to a historic sort of site.” While renovations are underway,the Med is currently serving pitas and salads from a temporary window service. The full restaurant and garden bar are slated to open in early June, pending their liquor license submission.

[Image of The Med under renovation]

Simultaneously occurring, Ichiban, a Japanese restaurant, is already experiencing success in the village.Co-owners and chefs Karen Aya Onishi and Diego Pires opened their doors in March, taking over the space formerly occupied by The Whipped Baker. “Business has been great,” Onishi said, “better then we expected.” The couple, who previously operated a food caravan, saw the potential of a permanent location after working an event at the village last year.[Image of ichiban co-owners]

Adding to the positive news, The Village Barber, owned by Trina Pyle, celebrated its fifth anniversary in May.Pyle, who signed her lease in 2020, is proud to have weathered the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. She continues to offer a special rate for Tauranga Hospital staff as a way to give back to essential workers. Demonstrating her commitment to the community, Pyle has also decided not to increase prices this year, recognizing the financial pressures faced by many families.

[Image of The Village Barber]

With new businesses opening and established ones thriving, Tauranga’s Historic Village continues to be a vibrant and evolving community hub.