With 80% of shops already let and the go-ahead to start road works, the R350-million Moffett on Main shopping centre in Walmer is "really happening".

Developer Victor Van Rensburg from Amber Mountain said that, so far, several tenants, including 8 000m² of space for the Mr Price group, had been confirmed.

Other names on board included anchor tenant Checkers, and lifestyle brands such as Ackermans Home Comforts and Home Etc. The centre would also house a Planet Fitness gym.

"We have very few clothing boutiques. Being a lifestyle centre, we left the clothing to Walmer Park because they're very good at that," Van Rensburg said.

He said they were "still wrestling with some restaurants to fill the food court and were in negotiations with Piatto Mediterranean Kitchen, a restaurant franchise not yet in the Eastern Cape.

The centre has just been given the go-ahead to start widening roads in the area.

Van Rensburg said the section of Main Road from 14th Avenue to William Moffett would be widened, and the section of the William Moffett up to Harold Road would also be widened.

"We just want to say to people that it is going to be uncomfortable for the next four months, and they must please be careful when they?re driving and take it easy," Van Rensburg said.

The road works were due for completion by the end of November, and they were hoping to open the centre by Easter next year, he said.

"That all depends on what happens with the weather and everything else. Checkers wants to be open by Easter and we want to try to open by then," he said.

Eastern Province Herald