Trader Game has announced it will open a store at Gillwell Taxi Retail Park just off Buffalo Street in East London.
Construction of the R300-million taxi retail park, which is two months away from its proposed opening date, started in 2013.
The park will include national retail chains, fast food outlets, banks and other service providers.
Construction company Isibonelo Property Services spokeswoman Nomazizi Sihlahla said work was on track to finish in March.
“We estimate the opening of the centre should be around March, if everything goes according to plan,” Sihlahla said.
She said 75% of the complex’s tenants had been confirmed.
Although Sihlahla is not allowed to name tenants, stores such as Game and Shoprite have announced their presence through billboards outside the site.
The size of the three-storey centre, 21521m², equals two soccer pitches.
Last year Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed company Dipula Income Fund announced it would acquire the shopping centre development in a R316-million deal.
Dipula chief executive Izak Petersen said: “The property meets Dipula’s strategy of acquiring larger, quality retail assets in targeted areas and improves the overall quality of our portfolio.
“Gillwell Taxi Retail Park is a well-located retail site in the retail hub of East London’s CBD. For Dipula, it represents sustainable income growth underpinned by major national retailers.”
Construction started in 2013 – five years after the development was made public.
The transaction between developers and Dipula is conditional on 80% of the retail space being pre-let with rental guarantees on any space that has not been let.
When construction began, Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese said hawkers who traded at the rank prior to the development would be incorporated in the proposed development.
“We had a participative meeting with them where we told them that they were included in the plans, plus we have an ongoing consultation with them.
“As the development continues, so will that consultation. So they have not been sidelined or excluded,” said Matebese.
Gompo Traders’ Association chairwoman Lungiswa Zoli said she was happy that hawkers had not been sidelined.
The hawkers are currently operating from a temporary site not far from the development.
East London Taxi Association public relations officer Wandile Bukani said the body could not wait for the completion and opening of the park.
“The construction of the mall has inconvenienced the taxi operators at Gillwell rank as we currently operate from pick-up points.
“The sooner this development is completed, the sooner we will be able to operate properly again,” said Bukani. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
March opening for new taxi mall
Construction of the R300-million taxi retail park, which is two months away from its proposed opening date, started in 2013.
The park will include national retail chains, fast food outlets, banks and other service providers.
Construction company Isibonelo Property Services spokeswoman Nomazizi Sihlahla said work was on track to finish in March.
“We estimate the opening of the centre should be around March, if everything goes according to plan,” Sihlahla said.
She said 75% of the complex’s tenants had been confirmed.
Although Sihlahla is not allowed to name tenants, stores such as Game and Shoprite have announced their presence through billboards outside the site.
The size of the three-storey centre, 21521m², equals two soccer pitches.
Last year Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed company Dipula Income Fund announced it would acquire the shopping centre development in a R316-million deal.
Dipula chief executive Izak Petersen said: “The property meets Dipula’s strategy of acquiring larger, quality retail assets in targeted areas and improves the overall quality of our portfolio.
“Gillwell Taxi Retail Park is a well-located retail site in the retail hub of East London’s CBD. For Dipula, it represents sustainable income growth underpinned by major national retailers.”
Construction started in 2013 – five years after the development was made public.
The transaction between developers and Dipula is conditional on 80% of the retail space being pre-let with rental guarantees on any space that has not been let.
When construction began, Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese said hawkers who traded at the rank prior to the development would be incorporated in the proposed development.
“We had a participative meeting with them where we told them that they were included in the plans, plus we have an ongoing consultation with them.
“As the development continues, so will that consultation. So they have not been sidelined or excluded,” said Matebese.
Gompo Traders’ Association chairwoman Lungiswa Zoli said she was happy that hawkers had not been sidelined.
The hawkers are currently operating from a temporary site not far from the development.
East London Taxi Association public relations officer Wandile Bukani said the body could not wait for the completion and opening of the park.
“The construction of the mall has inconvenienced the taxi operators at Gillwell rank as we currently operate from pick-up points.
“The sooner this development is completed, the sooner we will be able to operate properly again,” said Bukani. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos