Overport City gets much needed facelift

THE gloomy white elephant that has towered over the bustling city centre of Overport for years has been given a sleek, fresh revamp, and it couldn’t have come sooner!

It feels like everything that made Overport City the dark, dingy centre that most locals had come to know, has been torn down and painted over and a brand new, upmarket, spacious mall has been revealed and rebranded as The Atrium.

“The upgrade is absolutely fantastic! I have been coming here since I was a little girl. It has been in a state for years, now it feels like I’m walking into an upmarket mall,” said shopper Charmaine Reddy.

The developers wanted to create a restful, natural atmosphere reminiscent of the conservancies of old, and they have just about hit the mark. Sunlight streams in through the windows and bounces off glass panes, stainless steel railings and Turkish marble tiles, which makes the mall appear brighter and airier. Mainly indigenous foliage and little trees have been planted around the stairwells and in the centre of the mall, creating a unique and eye catching feature.

Once in the mall, customers can enjoy ease of shopping; stairs, escalators and lifts are punctuated efficiently around the centre, so you don’t have to walk too far to access another level. The bathrooms have also been prettied up and like most malls these days, include a family, disabled and baby changing room. There are multiple entrances to The Atrium from both the parking lot as well as the surrounding streets, all of which are clearly sign posted.

While effort has been made to lighten and brighten the parking area, with new tarmac on the roof, a fresh coat of paint and new lighting, it still retains that dungeon-like feel. That being said, as one shopper, Louell Gabagas reasoned, “It’s one of the few malls left in Durban where parking is free!” So I’m not going to complain.

A selection of specialist stores like Billie Boys (biltong), Manolis (dried fruit, nuts, seeds and biltong), Zero Gravity (evening wear), Shah Jewellers, Flavours of the East (spices) and Barbett Cortrelli (high end fashion) can be found in The Atrium.

The two draw cards being Checkers and Dischem.

Anchor tenant, Checkers, which has been in the old Overport City for decades, has also been given a makeover. The now spacious, bright, brand spanking new supermarket is certain to make for a pleasurable shopping experience.

News of the new and improved centre seems to be travelling fast as shop owners and sales staff report that business has been good in the past two months.

“We opened a branch at The Atrium in June. People have come to see what the new centre is like and continue to come back. Business has been good,” says Sarfaraz Patel, manager of spice shop, Flavours of the East.

Shop owners are positive that with time, The Atrium will enjoy more and more support from the surrounding community. “The location is good as it is convenient for the many Overport and Morningside residents. We get lots of passing trade and I’m sure this will increase once the Virgin Active is launched in the centre,” said Sheen Singh, owner of the beauty salon and training centre, Beauty Beyond.

Owner of fashion boutique Barbett Cortrelli, Raeesah Haffejee agrees, “When I heard about the planned makeover for Overport City, I knew it would be a good location for my business. The Atrium is central to lots of suburbs so it gets lots of traffic. The upgrade was much needed and the centre has become busier as a result.”

There are a few good family restaurants at The Atrium. The Spur and John Dorys both spill out and have views of the busy street, lending to a down town/city living sort of vibe.