The precinct is set to add another retail attraction to its R2bn Piazza with the opening next week of a 7000m² Edgars providing the Melrose Arch Piazza's retail mix with a “high street” shopping experience.
The Piazza represents the largest development completed within Melrose Arch since its first phase by owners Melrose Arch Investment Holdings, a joint venture between Amdec Property Development and Property Partners. It covers more than 60000m² of lettable retail and office space.
In March The Piazza, Melrose Arch, introduced about 100 new shops spanning 30000m² of retail and leisure space.
Now the new Edgars concept store is joining the mix.
Edgars has virtually doubled its trading area, to accommodate an iconic retail store, which it would not have been possible to create in a smaller space.
“We have added a substantial additional area to the development's footprint to yield a 6300m² trading area to accommodate Edgars' desired design objectives, supported by about 700m² of back-of-house space,” Nicholas Stopforth of Melrose Arch Investment Holdings says.
He says that in order to facilitate Edgars' increased space requirements, Melrose Arch undertook substantial demolition and reconstruction work — an investment the owners consider “well-spent”.
Construction of the Edgars space started at the end of October 2007 and is on track.
“The entire professional team, as well as the contractor Murray & Roberts, has pulled out all the stops to keep the development on schedule and, at this stage, no delays are expected for opening,” Stopforth says.
The opening of Edgars new concept store will have a twofold effect on Melrose Arch, according to Edgars operations executive, Michael Kimmings.
“With its flagship status, it will be a dynamic single-level iconic department store which offers Melrose Arch shoppers a wider choice of quality products, new brands, superb ranges and extensive variety of the latest fashions, sportswear and much more, complementing the existing retail variety which can be found at Melrose Arch,” Kimmings says.
Edgars is not the only retailer to open its doors in the second and third phases of The Piazza which are being constructed in tandem.
Protea Hotels has taken beneficial occupation and is fitting out its new 200-room hotel at Melrose Arch which will open at the end of February.
“The significantly increased level of office space, both in Melrose Arch and the surrounding area, has increased the demand for business hotel rooms,” Stopforth says.
The Protea Hotel is expected to offer an alternative to the existing Melrose Arch African Pride Hotel — which is also operated by the Protea group.
Taj — as part of its international expansion into SA — has identified Melrose Arch as the desired location from which to operate its first five-star hotel in Gauteng. The 150-room hotel is set to enhance the already strong international and national appeal of Melrose Arch when it opens in late 2011.
“The construction of the second and third phases of the Piazza have been strategically planned to limit the construction and fit out inconvenience to almost zero,” Stopforth says.
Construction access is limited off busy streets with all personnel entering the site through restricted basement areas.
Source: Business Day
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