In a coup for Kimberly and Diamond Pavilion, the extension will include the first Mr Price Sport in the Northern Cape which will occupy an impressive 1,300m2 in the extension which will form part of the existing mall.

The first Hi Fi Corporation store in the Northern Cape also recently opened at Diamond Pavilion.

“This extension of Diamond Pavilion is in line with its strategy which aims to offer the broadest possible shopping experience for Kimberley and surrounding areas, creating a regional shopping experience,” says Johann Kriek of Resilient Properties.

Resilient’s vision for Diamond Pavilion’s is to retain and enhance  customer spend within the local economy and are constantly investigating ways to further extend Diamond Pavilion’s offering.

The extension is being developed by Resilient Properties. Construction has already begun and every effort is being made to minimize the disruption to shoppers during the building process.

Mr Price Sport is due for completion before December this year. The remaining construction which includes the creation of approximately 300 undercover parking bays over two levels, further retail space and public toilet facilities, will be complete by 25 April 2008.

“Further negotiations are underway with exciting new tenants which will both complement and enhance the existing tenant mix,” says Kriek.

Mr Price Sport concept is aimed at making quality sporting goods affordable to all South African sportsmen, sportswomen and children. Extensive research showed that there was a gap in the market for high quality sporting goods at low prices.

“Mr Price has been involved in sports sponsorship for many years working closely with leading sportsmen and sportswomen. They have long complained to us about the cost of sports equipment and have encouraged us to get into sporting goods to make it easier for people to participate in sport,” said Mr Price Group CEO Alastair McArthur.

The panel of sports counselors to Mr Price Sport reads like a Who’s Who in sport. There’s Vladimir Kotov and Gwen van Lingen in running, Neil Tovey in soccer, Dale Steyn, Andre Nel and Albie Morkel in cricket, Keegan Daniel, Brad Barritt and Warren Britz in rugby, Kevin Curren in tennis, Adrian Hansen in Squash and Hank McGregor in Trail, to name but a few.