By Bianca Capazorio

The second phase of a suburban shopping centre in Nelson Mandela Bay, which will house the first Woolworths food store and a new steakhouse franchise in the Eastern Cape, is under way.

The new R30-million phase of the Sunridge Village centre will add an extra 3 000m² to the existing 6 000m². Additional parking will bring parking up to 450 bays. Construction company Speyers will be doing the work.

Phase two is set for completion in April next year. The new centre will, in addition to the Woolworths food store and restaurant franchise The Cattle Baron, house at least another 15 shops, for which centre management is still looking for tenants.

Phase one of the Sunridge Village shopping centre has already proved hugely popular in its first two years, according to centre manager Suzanne Fincham.

She said: “Every single tenant whose lease expired earlier this year has signed new lease agreements with us this year.”

In addition to the second phase, anchor tenant Sunridge Super Spar is in discussions with property developers concerning a significant expansion of the store, which is likely to add an extra R6-million to the project, said Fincham.