New Parklands mall to compete for convenience market

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 and Table View beaches.

The 12,500m² shopping centre located on Sandown Road will offer a handpicked range of goods and services to the local community.

Galetti, one of South Africa's leading commercial and industrial brokerage, sold the land parcel and secured a sole mandate for The Emporium and has achieved a strategic tenancy. "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 its broker, Wade Nel.

"But The Emporium presents residents with an appealing offering. The company's expertise in tenant acquisition, placing particular focus on securing Virgin Active and Food Lover's Market as the two main anchor tenants, has successfully tapped into identified gaps in the local market to provide greater convenience."

The head office is already touting the new Food Lover's Market as the flagship store. Imported finishes and equipment that will revolutionise the brand's position in a 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.

Successful Virgin Active

If the 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 strategic tenant mix is set to draw the area's 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 GM. The next closest Virgin Active is located just off Otto du Plessis Drive near Rietvlei, so Capetonians keen to be more active have welcomed the added capacity of the new facility.

The 3500m² state-of-the-art double-story health club has modern facilities and equipment including a Queenax suspension unit - a multi-functional machine described as an adult jungle gym and the second in the Western Cape.

High occupancy confirmed

With approximately 94% occupancy confirmed prior to the opening, 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.