East London's Gillwell Taxi Retail Park opens

Artist's impression of the Gillwell Taxi Retail Park

Izak Petersen, CEO of Dipula, said: "We are excited to welcome shoppers to the Gillwell Taxi Retail Park. It creates a city centre shopping environment that has never before been experienced by retailers and shoppers in the East London CBD."

He said that more than 1.5 million shoppers are expected to pass through the shopping centre's doors over its opening first month of trade.

Petersen added: "We expect the Gillwell Taxi Retail Park to be a portfolio-enhancing asset for Dipula as well as an iconic addition to East London. In fact, we believe it will become one of the crown jewels in our property portfolio."

The centre increases the retail variety in East London and complements, rather than competes with, other shopping malls. It provides the dispersed retail already trading in the CBD with a modern, one-stop retail destination. It also creates a quality, contemporary, weatherproof shopping environment for customers to enjoy.

Outstanding advantage

Petersen believes that the centre's position in the main transport hub of the lively East London CBD gives it an outstanding advantage.

"The many people who work, live and commute in the city centre every day mean that the Gillwell Taxi Retail Park already has an excellent trade market. It has a natural critical mass of shopper numbers made up of consumers that were previously under-served by retail," said Shadrack Mthethwa, CEO of Isibonelo Property Services. "The Gillwell Taxi Retail Park is positioned to optimise the spending power of this valuable consumer market."

The new shopping centre is perfectly located for people moving into and around the East London CBD.

"People won't have to look for the centre. When they get off a taxi, they'll be in it. When they get off a bus, they'll be next to it. When they get off a train, they'll be only steps away from it. It is the first thing you see when you enter the CBD from the airport. The Gillwell Taxi Retail Park is a new landmark," said Petersen.

Excellently served by public transport, especially taxis, the centre will be easy to access for commuters from all over East London. It will also be the first point of welcome in the city for commuters from its many surrounding towns and as far away as the former Transkei.

The Gillwell Taxi Retail Park is within walking distance from all key metropolitan and regional government departments. It is also near to the local train station, buses and harbour. Plus the world-renowned Mercedes Benz factory - the largest employer in East London - is close by.

Growing student population

The growing student population of nearby educational institutions, including the University of Fort Hare, Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan University, UNISA and various schools and colleges, will also be catered from at the Gillwell Taxi Retail Park.

When it opens this week, the centre will provide excellent shopping with a solid mix of retailers specially selected to meet the needs of its market. "For shoppers, there is now so much choice under one roof, including new shopping options they've never had before," said Barend de Loor of the Eris Property Group.

Petersen confirms that the shopping centre is over 95% let for opening. Its anchor tenants include Game and Shoprite, with appealing shopping delivered by many popular national retail brands, which make up three-quarters of the new centre's stores. Its retail mix is defined by a strong fashion selection.

It's clothing and accessory stores include: Identity, Foschini, Truworths, Ideals, Selfast, Mr Price, Choice Clothing, Fashion Express, Ackermans, Markham's, John Craig, Grand Shoes, Franco Ceccato, MarsM, Germany Clothing, Jumbo, Dodo's, Remtau Clothing, Tekkie Town, Dunns, Rage, Webbers, Skipper Bar, Style Diva, and Sterns.

When it comes to fast food, the Gillwell Taxi Retail Park will serve up Fish & Chips Co., Hungry Lion, Debonairs, Pie City, and Chesa Nyama with other food brands to follow.

Convenient banking

It will also offer convenient banking from Old Mutual, FNB, Hollard, Nedbank, Net1 Financial, Finbond, and Capitec. Cellphone and associated services feature prominently at the shopping centre, with MCell, PepCell, Cell 2 Sound, Happy Go Cellphone, and Vodacom.

Shopping for the home is easy with Pep Home, Mr Curtain and Happy Home, while Clicks and Signature Cosmetics will cater to shoppers' healthy and beauty needs.

Besides adding important social infrastructure to the city, Dipula's Gillwell Taxi Retail Park will also have a positive impact on its surrounds, contributing to the vibrancy and renewal of the area.

"The Gillwell Taxi Retail Park is a unique shopping centre, and an ideal asset to meet the retail needs of a modern, world-class South African city. We are expecting big things from its performance for Dipula," said Petersen.