KNYSNA NEWS - After years of hoping for a shopping centre in Concordia, residents can finally look forward being able to shop closer to home. South African development group Latitude Properties is all set to open phase one of their R200m mixed-use development in Concordia named Kunjani Concordia Mall next Thursday, 30 March.
Latitude CEO Harry Pretorius explains that phase one of the development will bring shopping convenience to the underserviced area, while phase two will add a second retail component and other facilities including affordable housing, a co-working office, day clinic, action soccer fields as well as an early childhood development (ECD) centre.
"We are extremely excited about our Kunjani concept developments. By creating more equitable developments with more cohesive, inclusive spaces we are making townships better places for residents," Pretorius says.
At least 200 builders and labourers have been and will be involved in the construction of the 4 500m² shopping mall development, and it will also yield at least 100 permanent jobs upon completion.
"National retailers Shoprite, Ackermans and Pep will open branches in phase one of the project. We have also made allowance to support informal traders and smaller retailers with the space, so our approach is very much a collaborative one that will stimulate the entire area and have a positive social impact," says Pretorius.
There are six stalls set aside for smaller traders, all of which will be let to local micro businesses, with the aim of growing them into bigger businesses that will take larger shops in future.
Four of the six stalls will be let to women from the neighbourhood, namely Khanyou's Health & Beauty, Ruth's Nail Bar, Zamaguni Fashion and Sarah's Hair Salon. The other two will be filled by Nekkies Spares and Black Base Computer Hub.
A section of the mall's exterior will be used as a platform to collaborate with South African artists. The first artist to feature is Zanele Montle. A collection of her work will be featured, as well as pictures of children from the local community to create a piece called Abantu Bethu or "our people".
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