Pan Africa Shopping Centre is part of the Presidential Alexandra Renewal Project - a massive initiative aimed at improving living conditions and upgrading human capacity, including environmental development, human skills, housing and infrastructure programmes. The mall is being developed by Pan Africa DevCo, a development company established by Tebfin Developments in partnership with local entrepreneurs and the two main taxi associations in Alexandra: ATA and ARMSTA.

The 16,000m2 Centre is well located at the heart of the area’s iconic transport and retail node, and starting from March 2009 when the new centre opens, will offer Alexandra’s residents their shopping choice and convenience. It forms part of a comprehensive retail and taxi node including a super-efficient 50,000m2 taxi rank, three-level holding facility for taxis, public parking and structured informal trading. The combined retail offering in the node exceeds 40,000m2, which is equivalent to that of a regional shopping mall.

This exciting retail development will provide a quality, first-world shopping environment structured along the lines of leading shopping centres in South Africa and has attracted a 2,800m2 Pick n Pay as anchor tenant. Some 80% of tenants comprise national retailers, featuring some of South Africa’s favourite retail and food brands. A large number of retailers from Alexandra will be represented for the first time in Pan Africa Shopping Centre.

Pick n Pay’s property and operations director, Izak Joubert explains that Pick n Pay has been entering markets, in which it was previously not established under the Pick n Pay brand, by converting Score stores and also by opening new stores in green-fields developments. “Last year was our first entry into the Soweto market under the Pick ‘n Pay banner and we are extremely pleased to follow this up so quickly with Alexandra,” enthuses Joubert. “Alexandra is one of the oldest suburbs of Johannesburg and it is therefore fitting that Pick ‘n Pay Alexandra is opening relatively early in the Pick ‘n Pay roll-out to these markets.”

Joubert explains that Pick n Pay’s approach to entering these markets, for the most part, has been via the franchise model so as to create a platform for an owner who is also the operator. “Aside from empowerment, this really helps in achieving a connection with the community that the store serves. This particular site is a really good one and we know that it will be a success for Pick ‘n Pay and that it will serve the community of Alexandra well.”

Joining Pick n Pay at Pan Africa Shopping Centre, leading retailers include Exact, John Craig, Skipper Bar, Legit, Link Pharmacy, Jet Mart, Pep, Markham, Post Office, Nedbank, Savells, Fairdeal, Glomail, Jive City, Multiserve, Tab, OK Furniture and cellular operators Vodacom and MTN will all have shops at Pan Africa Shopping Centre. Complementing this is a unique mixture of local retailers spanning everything from fashion and beauty to medical, internet café and DVD rentals.

Pan Africa Shopping Centre’s impressive variety of food outlets includes MacDonalds, King Pie, Steers, Debonairs, Fish ‘n Chips, KFC, McDonalds, Milky Lane, Pantsula Bites, Captain Dorego’s and Meat & Chicken.

With its dynamic tenant mix, the mall is likely to compete head-to-head with centres such as Balfour Park, Greenstone Mall, Sandton City Midrand and the Jo’burg CBD, where many Alex residents currently spend their money.