R35m facelift for Tokai on Main shopping centre

Tokai on Main shopping centre.

A R35 million upgrade and redevelopment of the Tokai on Main Shopping Centre in Main Road, Tokai which includes a new, state-of-the-art 3500 square metre Food Lovers Market, is nearing completion.

Colin Anderson, a director of the Rabie Property Group, said the building work had been completed and final touches were now being done.

He said the Food Lovers Market had accounted for the bulk of the redevelopment - which included raising the roof to bring in natural light - with five other shops being closed or relocated to make way for the enlarged store.

The group’s largest store in the Western Cape, the Food Lovers Market had opened in December and was trading way ahead of expectations attracting customers from far afield.

“As a fresh produce emporium it is really spectacular offering not only a huge variety of fruit and vegetables but also cheeses, meat, fish, chocolates and pasta. There is also a general grocery department, a bakery, a deli, a sushi bar, coffee shop, biltong bar, wood burning pizza oven and wine bar.”

Anderson said the incredible support from local shoppers justified the upgrade as there had certainly been a pent up demand for genuine convenience retailing in the area.

“And the increased foot count the new Food Lovers Market is drawing to the centre will no doubt improve the trading density of all the tenants.”

Graeme Liebenberg, Group Property & Business Development Manager, of Food Lovers Market, said the store had exceeded all expectations in terms of sales performance “which bears testimony to the fact that we are providing what the consumer is looking for”.

“The new Food Lovers Market gives the customer the ‘Theatre of Food’ experience, which is unique in South African food retail and brings a level of excitement to an otherwise mundane experience.

“The Tokai Food Lovers Market is the latest example of our innovation and years of constantly analyzing international food trends offering the customer an experience that is right on the forefront of global food retail and which could be in New York, Paris or London.”

The shopping centre, which is managed by Rabie Property Administrators, includes Baby City, Sportsmans Warehouse, Super Plants, Postnet and Dial a Bed. This too has received a facelift with work now nearing completion.

The redevelopment had also improved the parking flows while still retaining in excess of 370 parking bays.

The redevelopment of the shopping centre, along with other large urban renewal projects in the area including the upgrade of the nearby Blue Route centre, was assisting the repositioning of the area as a strong commercial node and there had also been a strong pick up of inquiries for the adjacent offices in recent months, said Anderson.