Bigger theatre of shopping
UMHLANGA’S Gateway Theatre of Shopping is undergoing a major expansion project that will add a further 20 000m² to the centre, making it once again the largest mall on the continent.
Excellerate Real Estate Services t/a JHI portfolio manager for Gateway, Akash Maharaj, said the development, which started last month, would add an estimated 20 000m² to the gross leasable area (GLA) and take 20 months to complete.
He said some phases of the project were expected to be completed this year and others next year, but he declined to put a figure to the investment at this stage. “The project has been in the pipeline for a number of years, with the right determining factors coming together late last year, allowing the project to start in the first quarter of 2017,” he said.
“This project isn’t a specific extension to one area, but rather a number of nodes around the mall. This is a combination of current stores expanding and about 30-plus additional stores.
Two additional parking decks will be added to keep up with demand and ease traffic and pedestrian flow. The taxi rank will be expanded, Maharaj said.
The expansion will take Gateway, which has 400 stores and 166 363m² of GLA, back to its former glory of being the largest mall on the continent after it was usurped by Menlyn Park Mall in Tshwane, which expanded following a R2bn revamp last November.
“The project is in response to ongoing demand from both local and international retailers wanting to either expand or open premises at Gateway.
“The development will ensure customer needs are fulfilled and will ensure the centre lives up to its vision and mission,” Maharaj said.
“There has been positive commitment from a variety of international, national and local retailers. We are currently finalising tenant mix in the remaining space available,” he said. The development will include a relocated state-of-the-art food court, the introduction of new flagship international retailers yet to be revealed, and the addition of national brands not previously represented at the mall.
“The development includes a revitalised Palm Court piazza, which will have a contemporary look and feel, as well as a banking mall in the ex-Barnyard premises,” Maharaj said.
An estimated 7 500 people work at Gateway, which receives more than 27 million visitors a year with 2.2 million expected to visit over Easter and an estimated 2.3 to 2.4 million and 3.2 million in July and December respectively.
Maharaj said it was not possible at this stage to estimate how many jobs would be created during construction and through the expansion.
He said the company’s vision for the mall over the next three to five years was to remain one of the greatest shopping and entertainment complexes in the southern Hemisphere and to bolster economic development for the uMhlanga Ridge precinct.
On whether this would be the final major revamp, Maharaj said: “Should the demand and various economic factors warrant the need to extend or upgrade, it will be considered.”
Grant Bezuidenhout of Impendulo Design Architects, which worked on the project design, described the look and feel of the extension.
“Our design ethos for the new Gateway development stems from sensory architecture, with the architecture encouraging interactivity, and enriching people’s experience within the space,” Bezuidenhout said.
Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Dumile Cele said the mall expansion were a response to the way residential and commercial developments in uMhlanga and Durban North.
“Developments surrounding the Aerotropolis, Sibaya luxury and residential establishments and the uMhlanga Newtown area present opportunities for commercial retail in the area and the Durban chamber is pleased to see a market response from JHI,” Dumile said. “Local businesses will benefit from the leasing opportunities as well as local construction companies during and after this expansion. Tourism will also benefit by Gateway retaining its status as the largest shopping mall on the continent as this will attract travellers,” Cele said.
THE co-owners of Liberty Midlands Mall in Pietermaritzburg (Liberty Two Degrees and Liberty Group Limited), have announced plans to increase their investment in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with an expansion of Liberty Midlands Mall.
Alex Phakathi, chief operating officer, Liberty Two Degrees, said: “The new phase is attracting exciting new brands and speciality stores that are currently not available in the market, as well as providing some of our existing retailers the ability to expand.
“We consider Pietermaritzburg a stable economic environment with good growth prospects”.
Amelia Beattie, chief executive, Liberty Two Degrees, emphasised that the investment fell within the Liberty Two Degrees strategy of investing in retail environments in response to customer needs and wants.
The owners said in a statement that the expansion would strengthen the mall’s position as the area’s largest shopping mall by providing additional retail offerings, further increasing the mall’s appeal to locals and visitors alike.
Liberty Midlands Mall currently has a gross lettable area of 56 000m² with 168 stores.
On completion of Phase 3, the size of the centre will increase to 78 000m².
According to the statement, construction on Midlands Mall Phase 3 began in November last year and the development is expected to be completed by early next year.
Some of the tenants secured for the extension include Planet Fitness, Checkers and Coricraft.