Fourways Mall rises from the ashes with a multimillion rand revamp
Once teetering on the brink of collapse, Fourways Mall is making a dramatic comeback with a multi-million rescue plan.
Accelerate, a retail-focused property fund, broke news headlines when it announced last year that Fourways Mall, one of South Africa’s biggest malls, was on its knees.
The company was seeking to raise R200m in investment to save the mall from losing even more tenants.
As reported in R200m to revamp mall [Week ending April 26, 2024], the mall’s struggles left residents and shoppers disappointed and lacking the desire to shop there.
But gone are the days of dimly lit corridors and vacant storefronts at the mall since Flanagan and Gerard, and the Moolman Group were appointed as managing agents last year.
Also read: JRA knows Farmall residents want repairs and maintenance
Since then, the mall, once a shadow of its former self, has emerged from the ashes, reborn and revitalised.
The managing director of Flanagan and Gerard, Paul Gerard, and its financial director, John Holley, confirmed that the mall was in a very bad state.
Holley said the mall had a leaking roof, falling ceilings, and the fire escape passages were poorly lit. Additionally, there was poor signage and back-up power, insufficient parking, and overloaded electrical connections.
Now, the mall has welcomed a slew of new shops, restaurants, and other amenities.
“The previous developers or the current owners did a very good job of creating better access to the shopping centre. And with that, we believe that there’s an opportunity to make this the best shopping centre in the country in time.”
Also read: Fears rise as new Fourways informal settlement takes root
The mall’s revamp has not only improved its aesthetic appeal but also its functionality. From improved lighting to cleverly designed parking directions, every detail has been carefully considered to enhance the shopping experience.
But the mall’s makeover goes beyond mere aesthetics. It has become an integral part of the community, adopting local intersections to improve traffic flow and participating in initiatives that benefit the community.
“We couldn’t achieve that by ourselves, but we’re very lucky we have partners… we have spearheaded a very strong business improvement district, and off the back of that, multiple robots have been adopted,” added Gerard.
Read more: Johannesburg Water fails Marquise Place resident
One of the most striking additions is the refurbished plane installation named Lady Naledi, once a mysterious fixture in a dark corner of the mall, that got people wondering why it was there in the first place.
After eight years, it has been relaunched to great fanfare, adding a touch of whimsy to the mall’s décor. Gerard concluded that the installation had been named after a resident after they ran a competition. “It shows how active and much they [community] love the mall.”
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
