WATCH: Heartwarming Value Centre relaunch following #KZNunrest
Kingsmead Value Centre in Springfield has relaunched with the opening of 70% of its stores on Thursday, September 29.
THE Springfield Value Centre was relaunched amidst much fanfare on Thursday, September 29. It was a bittersweet moment as stakeholders recounted the events of the July 2021 unrest which saw the centre devastated by rampant looting and fire damage.
In a statement, Donald Mclellan, SA Corporate Real Estate (Limited) national marketing manager announced that 70% of the centre’s stores opened on Thursday with the remaining stores set to open their doors next year.
Speaking at the event, Mark Mac Turner of Furniture Vibe, recounted driving into the centre to find unabated looting at his store.
“In the blink of an eye, we were R6m in the red,” he said.
Ryan Davidson, Chief Operations Officer of Kingsmead Shoes, added that staff were displaced after the centre closed for repairs.
“When the looting began in 2021, the biggest concern for most retailers in Durban was our staff. Most managed to place staff in various stalls, but staff have always been asking when the centre would reopen,” he said.
In a statement, Davidson added, “Kingsmead takes customer service very seriously, and unlike a lot of retail stores nowadays, has taken the decision to staff up to ensure the customer has the best in-store experience.”
Also speaking at the launch was Nathisha Singh, project manager for Transcendence Development which undertook the massive repair project.
“Engaging in this rebuild during one of the most uncertain periods of our lifetime is probably as challenging as it gets,” she said.
Watch a video of the launch here:
