Cape Town’s Emporium Shopping Mall on track for July opening

Residents and commuters in Cape Town’s Northern Suburb, Parklands, can soon look forward to the opening of the Emporium, a new 12,500m² shopping centre located on Sandown Road.

The much-anticipated 12,500m² shopping centre will open its doors for trading to the general public late July 2013 and will offer a handpicked range of goods and services to the local community.

Regarded as one of the fastest growing middle class suburbs in South Africa, Parklands in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs continues to attract interest, thanks to easy access to local schools and main transport links, and close proximity to Blouberg & Table View beaches. Now, a new shopping centre will offer Parklands residents even more convenience, thanks to a Food Lover’s Market measuring 4,500m² and also a massive Virgin Active gym, which opened to members in March.

Galetti, a commercial and industrial brokerage firm sold the land parcel and secured a sole mandate for The Emporium. “Parklands presents a highly-competitive retail market, in fact it’s currently over-subscribed. This is due to an abundance of small main street retail outlets and smaller retail centres, with more planned for the near future”, says Galetti Broker, Wade Nel.

At 4,500m² the new Food Lover’s Market will be the second largest in the country and is already being touted by the Head Office as the flagship store. Imported finishes and equipment that will revolutionise the brand position Food Lover’s in an entirely different class of retailer. The franchisee family are well renowned with over 25 years of retail experience and are well entrenched in the community, supporting local causes and schools.
 
According to Nel, an average footfall of between 6,000 and 8,000 shoppers is expected at the centre per day. If the phenomenal response to the Virgin Active gym, called Virgin Active Sunningdale, which opened in March ahead of the rest of the centre, is anything to go by, The Emporium’s strategic tenant mix is set to draw the Parklands convenience market.
 
“With the rapid growth in the area we knew it was time to offer a second health club facility,” explains Reza de Greeff, Club General Manager. The next closest Virgin Active is located just off of Otto du Plessis Drive near Rietvlei, so the added capacity of the new facility has been welcomed by Capetonians keen to be more active.
 
The 3,500m² state-of-the-art double story health club boasts the most modern of facilities and equipment including a Queenax suspension unit – a multi-functional machine described as an adult jungle gym, and only the second in the Western Cape.
 
With approximately 94% occupancy confirmed prior to the opening of The Emporium, other tenants include Bargain Books, Jawitz, International Realtors, King Cake, Perky Pets, PostNet, Sports Lounge, Boost Surfing, Vogue Hair Salon, Execuspecs, Old Fashioned Fish & Chips, Pizza Perfect, Emporio Italiano, London Keys, Sunningdale Pharmacy, Kahns Jewellers, Fresh Laundry, Cash Crusaders and 360 Nutrition.
 
“Once the R27 corridor opens later this year, we are confident that The Emporium will enjoy even higher visibility, which will be good for all our tenants,” says Nel.