Huge rush as Baywest Mall opens
Security personnel kept on their toes as thousands swamp stores for specials
THERE were queues snaking around nearly every corner as thousands of shoppers descended on the R1.7-billion Baywest Mall in Port Elizabeth, which opened its doors for the first time yesterday.
Shoppers waited eagerly outside for the formalities to end in- side where developers and Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle addressed the media and other invited guests.
At 10am, the ribbons were cut and shoppers rushed inside, some carrying pamphlets with specials, searching for the relevant stores in the 90 000m² shopping centre.
Meanwhile, there was one hiccup to the opening as a car was reported stolen outside the mall.
Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said a case of vehicle theft was opened with police just after noon.
However, the owner of the car – a 1994 white Volkswagen Jetta – had forgotten where it had been parked.
Inside the mall, security personnel and other staff had to control shoppers trying to enter Checkers Hyper, Game and DionWired where people queued for about 30 minutes waiting to enter.
The mall’s anchor tenants include Edgars, Woolworths, Game, Checkers Hyper and Pick n Pay, which enjoy a combined 32 000m² of space in the mall.
Eateries like Simply Asia, Spur, Panarottis and the Bay Leaf Cafe also had long queues of hungry shoppers.
Billabong regional manager Josh Enslin said the brand was ecstatic to be one of the stores in the mall.
“We have worked through the night to get everything ready and our staff did not get much sleep this week, but it has all been worth it. There has never been more excitement in opening a store,” he said.
Mark Juthe, 43, of Jacksonville in the northern areas, said: “I am looking for specials. It is nice to have a new place to walk around.”
When asked what he thought of the crowds, he said: “I work for myself so I am not bunking work, but I think many of the people here today are bunking work.”
Sukanya Poovendran, 30, and Paul Rajiah, 35, said they had queued for an hour outside to gain entrance to the mall.
“We have been following the news about the mall for a long time and we wanted to come and have a look. The specials inside look great,” Poovendran said.
Esther Bothma, 55, of Rowallan Park, said she was slightly disappointed in the opening.
“We live around the corner so we have been watching the mall being built, but I must say we are not happy about so many places being closed. We even tried to go into the toilets but they are all closed,” she said.