Top rated retailing group, Edgars Consolidated Stores Ltd (Edcon), is to boost its presence in the KwaZulu/Natal market by opening Edgars and Jet stores in Gateway Theatre of Shopping, the Umhlanga retail and entertainment complex.

Accommodating Edgars and Jet will entail a 7 000m2 expansion to Gateway’s gross lettable area of

107 000m2, just two years after the centre opened, says Ian Watt, managing director of Old Mutual Properties, the developers and managers of the centre.

Mike Lewin, Edcon’s property development executive, says the 6 000m2 Edgars store will open on October 28 next year and the Jet store of 1 000m2 will begin trading on April 29.

“Gateway is one of a number of complexes around South Africa where we initially elected not to have a presence at the commencement of trading there. Our market analysis now shows Gateway reaching a level of maturity and that the time is right for us to have substantial stores there, “he says.

“Another complex about which we were initially hesitant is the Riverside Mall in Nelspruit. That, too, has now reached a level of maturity and we are in negotiations for space there.

“Edgars at Gateway will be a great store, with excellent visibility, and ambience enhanced by a massive skylight. Together with an up-to-date Jet store, it will allow us to build on our successful performance in the KZN market. Trading there, along with the rest of the country, is really buoyant. “

Watt said he believed the addition of Edgars and Jet to Gateway’s offering would be welcomed by customers and tenants and would confirm Gateway as the major retailing and entertainment venue in the region. 

“Edcon’s brands are market leaders and will add substantially to the range of merchandise at Gateway and its visitor traffic.”

Edgars and Jet will join other successful national retailers, including Woolworths, which rates the Gateway store as its best in KZN, Truworths, Ster Kinekor, CNA, Clicks, Mr Price, Milady’s, Hub, Spar, Checkers Hypermarket, Hugo Boss, Mont Blanc, Hilton Weiner and Jenni Button.

Many of these stores opened for the first time in the province through the attraction of Gateway Theatre of Shopping and are building a good base, says Watt.

Opened in October 2001, Gateway now attracts more than 22 million shopper visits a year averaging 170 minutes each.  The winner of a design merit award from the International Council of Shopping Centres, it has almost half its area devoted to entertainment facilities. These include South Africa’s most popular movie complex, a science centre, a standing wave for board riders, the world’s highest indoor climbing rock and a 4 x 4 track. 

Gateway also pioneered an initiative by Old Mutual Properties to help smaller tenants in its centres improve their performance by providing consulting services on aspects of retailing.

ISSUED FOR Old Mutual Properties

BY  Michael Kerkhoff & Associates

INQUIRIES  Ian Watt 021-530-4537

                    Mike Lewin 011-495-1065

                    Mike Kerkhoff 021-424-5280