And the food-heavy focus of GPT’s new centre on Keira Street looked to be a major reason there were more men there on Thursday than you usually see in any shopping centre.

It could have been Bunnings on a Saturday morning for all the blokes, and they were there for the sushi, the burgers, the seafood, the foot-long sandwiches and the barbecue wraps.

They were also there, of course, to check out the new centre, have a walk around with the family, perhaps get some new headphones or a camera.

On this shopping trip the blokes were willing participants, and the Mercury even spotted one girlfriend physically dragging her beau away from the electronics section in JB Hi-Fi. The man, locked in suburban hunter mode, continued to gaze longingly at his prey, silently, perhaps planning his return.

Of course there’d be no point leaving without checking out the food; that would be silly.

Twentysomethings bustled in the crush to get at vege-laden sandwiches. Many remarked on the healthy options – these were no salad dodgers.

Thirtysomething tradies devoured sushi by the kilogram, while older gentlemen were picking themselves a good vantage point and soaking it in.

They might not have seen a mall like this one before, certainly not in the Illawarra.

The centre of Wollongong has been desperately in need of something different and the scene yesterday showed just how different it is.

For a population that loves familiarity as much as anything, on Thursday they embraced the difference, creating a festival atmosphere on all levels.

Cleaners were even being asked about architectural features. Windows opened and let in the fresh breeze from the east.

Blonde wood is clearly back, and let’s hope it’s here to stay this time, not just part of the fad for all things Scandinavian.

It was hard to move around in some places, without enough room, but this was an unusually large crowd ambling about.

In the food court, some more interesting Asian options would have been good – Korean barbecue, or a dumpling house perhaps, beyond the bain-marie Cantonese – but you can’t have everything.

Taco chain Guzman y Gomez will be mucho grande when it opens, especially with the hombres.

But so far, the biggest culinary hit seemed to be the Grill’d burger franchise at ground level.

Its angle of Yankee comfort food with a healthy spin (grass-fed beef, and the burgers have salad) is bang on trend, and the place was pumping.

The burger joint’s construction also surprised for all the right reasons. Floor to ceiling glass opens up the entire corner of the building, activating the Crown Street entry and creating an energetic atmosphere.

There was not much developer GPT could do about the concrete box they inherited across Keira Street, the former Crown Central. But the design of the new centre seems almost like an attempt to make up for it, in terms of the amenity brought to the corner of Keira and Crown.

There’s a surprising amount of light, air and open space.

Will the crowd of people, and the men, come back after opening day? The bad news for other venues nearby is that the bar has been lifted, and yes they will be back.

The good news is the variety, and people-watching opportunities, will keep the suburban hunter returning to this gathering ground for many lunchtimes to come.