With its origins in the early 18th Century, Swellendam is South Africa’s third oldest town, and the centre of a thriving Overberg farming community at the foot of the Langeberg. Equidistant from Cape Town and George (240km), the Swellendam community has had to travel big distances for major shopping, so the joint venture between Cape-based national property developer Prosperito and Sentraal Suid Kooperasie (SSK) will provide a much-needed regional retail resource.  The centre will be known as SwellenMark.

Historic elements coupled with sensitive urban renewal are part of the planned R80 million retail project. After extensive market research, the developers established that there was a necessity for a shopping centre within the CBD area of Swellendam, not only to serve the immediate environment, but also to serve the substantial and growing shopping market from surrounding towns, coastal areas and tourists visiting the area.

The project will provide the town with a 7 800m2 shopping and lifestyle quarter, tenanted by major national retailers and local traders. It involves the conversion of large industrial warehouses belonging to the local co-op, which dominate the centre of the village otherwise renowned for some of the country’s most striking historic structures. Included in the plans are additional buildings, rustic water furrows, , picturesque pathways and a traditional village square. And, says Prosperito MD Gerhardt Jooste, the centre is also intended as a natural gathering point for residents and visitors in the tradition of historic villages.

National retailers Checkers, Clicks, Jet, Markham, Wimpy, Total Sport and American Swiss chose SwellenMark to debut the arrival of new brands in the area, while Mr Price and Foschini will be relocating to the centre.

The development is set to boost the local economy, with residents provided with more reason to keep spend within the town, rather than travelling to shop in Worcester, Somerset West and Cape Town.  SwellenMark will also boost local employment and job opportunities.

“SwellenMark has been strategically designed to meet the key needs of shoppers, and offers a great variety of fashion, leisure, convenience and lifestyle shopping,” says Francois Coetzer, Retail Director of Prosperito. “With retail giants such as Checkers, Clicks, Foschini and Mr Price, the central location and favorable parking, SwellenMark is set to become synonymous with shopping in Swellendam and surrounds.”

In a move away from the conventional retail mall, the development will feature strong natural light and air, and a sense of an avenue of trees will be created in the major walkway that traverses the various elements of the centre. Apple trees will be cultivated on espaliers as part of the landscaping and to provide fruit.

SSK relocated their co-op buildings, which include feed and fertilizer stores, to new decentralized facilities, 14 000m2 in extent, built on a site outside the town.  Here, more comprehensive services  are provided for farmers, including mechanical repairs and large machinery sales.

‘The new developments represent progress for Swellendam, by raising our economic profile in the region, improving our service to the farmers of the Overberg, and through sensitive planning and design, enhancing the stature of the historic town centre,’ said Erenst Pelser CEO of SSK.

Accordingly to the Fernridge Demographic and Market Potential Report the Swellendam Area can sustain gross lettable area of 94 881 m2.
 
The centre opens on May 26 next year and Rand Merchant Bank is the financiers.

Prosperito currently has a number of major projects underway throughout the Eastern and Western Cape, and will also soon start with the development of the 20 000m2 Zwide-Kwazekele Kinako Retail Centre in partnership with Shoprite Properties.