Major shopping mall in South Africa getting huge upgrade – opening next month

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17-09-2024
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The redeveloped Parkdene Boulevard in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, is set to open next month.

Abland Property Developers and Retail Africa are upgrading the centre in collaboration with Nedbank CIB and the Ellerine Group. It is set to open on 24 October 2024.

“We are excited about the potential for Parkdene Boulevard to meet this need and provide an elevated shopping experience within an established yet growing node,” said Grant Silverman, Director at Abland Property Developers on PropertyWheel.

The redevelopment will expand the centre from 11,000 sqm to roughly 32,000 sqm. The long-standing Checkers Hyper is also being upgraded, expanded and modernised.

The centre has long served Parkdene and its surroundings. The surrounding area has also undergone a period of redevelopment and expansion through the construction of several high-density residential developments, which has increased the demand for quality retail in the area.

“Parkdene Boulevard, a landmark in Gauteng’s East Rand region, is set to revitalise the area and elevate the retail experience for visitors. This transformation signifies a new chapter of vibrancy and modernisation, addressing the changing needs of the local community,” said Abland.

The shopping centre’s location in the East Rand has also been touted as a strong feature. The mall offers easy access to major routes like the R21 and Rondebult Road.

It is also close to several residential areas and schools, such as Hoërskool Voortrekker, Christian Brothers College, St Dominic’s Catholic School For Girls, and Curro Academy Pre-and-Primary School.

The centre’s anchor stores are Checkers Hyper, Dischem, and Edgars, and it also offers a wide variety of other retail options and drive-thru outlets.

The centres will also have landscaped green areas, which are set to elevate the overall shopping and customer experience.

Mall Capital of South Africa

Gauteng may be the smallest province in South Africa, but it is known for many shopping centres.

According to 2023 data from Lightstone, Gauteng’s 1,800 monitored shopping centres account for 50% of South Africa’s shopping centres and 32% of the total mall visit time. However, the province only holds roughly 25% of the nation’s population.

Gauteng is also home to the nation’s two largest malls – Fourways Mall and Menlyn Mall.

Lightstone’s data also showed that the Mall of Africa in Midrand, Johannesburg, is the busiest mall in the country in terms of visits and mall duration (counting per visiting vehicle).

Despite the push for more retail centres in rural areas, the mall craze can still be seen in the nation’s economic hub, with other developments having opened or expected to open in 2024.

The Pan Africa Shopping Centre expansion in Alexandra, Johannesburg, will also officially open in October 2024.

The expansion of the township mall, which Redefine owns, will add 10,300 sqm of additional retail space – taking its gross lettable area (GLA) to over 25,000 sqm.

In addition, the new Castle Gate Lifestyle Centre opened in May of this year.

The Lifestyle Centre is across the road from the popular Castle Gate shopping centre and offers an additional 24,000 square metres of retail space.