Over 30 000 excited shoppers welcomed the new 27 500m2 Dunes Mall in Walvis Bay, Namibia, on its opening day of 26 October 2017.
Developed by leading South African property developer and investor Atterbury, and in partnership with local developers Collins Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of JSE listed Tradehold Limited, the new R600 million mall has become the very first regional shopping centre in the key Namibian port city of Walvis Bay.
The mall was officially opened by Mayor of Walvis Bay, His Worship Alderman Immanuel Wilfried, Special Advisor to the Governor of the Erongo Region Ms Adelheid Kandjala and CEO of Atterbury Louis van der Watt.
People came from near and far and joined the queues to be part of the landmark opening of this oasis of shopping and entertainment. Many enamoured shoppers commented that they were impressed by the calibre and aesthetic appeal of the world-class Dunes Mall.
After its three-year development project, Dunes Mall opened with over 60 stores welcoming customers for the first time. Another approximately 20 shops will open in the mall in early in February 2018.
Dunes Mall is managed by Atterbury. It is the largest mall in the area and the second largest in Namibia after The Grove Mall of Namibia, also developed and managed by Atterbury.
With knowledge of the Namibian market gained from their first investment in the country, Atterbury knows that Namibia is well suited to its investment strategy.
Development Manager for Atterbury, Evert Kleynhans, says: “The decision to expand Atterbury’s retail footprint in Namibia came as no surprise. Thriving Walvis Bay was the logical next step for a regional shopping centre development, considering the substantial investment activity in the port city and the shortage of retail servicing the area. From past experiences across all our portfolios, we know that by creating critical mass it becomes easier for residents to shop and it creates a node that everyone identifies with.”
He adds: “We are confident about the future of Walvis Bay and the trading Dunes Mall. Walvis Bay is enjoying substantial growth, and Dunes Mall is its first large one-stop shopping mall, offering extended trading hours coupled with big well-known brands previously not available in Walvis Bay. Dunes Mall is convenient and dominant in its area, and this signals positive growth for its retailers.”
Dunes Mall is located at the sweet spot of a major road intersection close to the city’s airport and the iconic tourism area of Swakopmund. This positions it ideally for Walvis Bay residents and visitors, as well as people from throughout Namibia’s greater Erongo region.
The centre is anchored by a 3 500m2 Checkers, a 2 700m2 Pick n Pay and a 1 700m2 Woolworths. Adding to the mix is a 1 500m2 Dis-Chem and a 1 800m2 House and Home. It has a stylish line-up of fashion retailers, including Cotton On, Truworths, the Mr Price Group, Foschini Group and Pepkor Group. The mall also features a food court with a children’s play area and a fountain in the middle of the centre. Restaurants at the mall include Spur, John Dory’s, and Mugg & Bean, all with ample outdoor seating areas.
Dunes Mall is set to be so much more than a popular shopping and entertainment destination. It is already having a positive impact on its local communities by creating employment, and it is expected to be a catalyst for even more development and investment in the area.
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