US$200m Zambia’s largest mixed-use development opens
ZAMBIA | Levy Business Park and Mall.
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LUSAKA – The 30 000m² Levy Shopping Centre opened its doors in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, on Thursday morning with thousands of people streaming through the doors within the first few hours
Lusaka residents flocked to the new shopping mall, Levy Business Park, named after the late President Levy P. Mwanawasa which opened its doors to the public on Thursday morning. The visibly eagerly anticipating residents waited hours early before the grand opening time of 9am local time.
The US$ 200 million, 30,000m², development is an answer to the fast developing Zambian economy experiencing demand space across the property spectrum in the capital. The venture was financed by Zambia’s National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) who partnered with Liberty Properties as the developer. The mall boasts 72 stores, 97% of which are let and comprises mostly South African based corporate retailers.
The big names among others include, Woolworths, Totalsports, Truworths, Mr Price, Nine West, Guess, Edgars, Jets, Exact and Levi. On the food front there is the Food Lover’s Market, KFC, King Pie, Mugg & Bean, Steers and Wimpy. Naturally, several local shops also have their place among the South African offering while many Zambians have input as franchisees.
The food outlets proved particularly popular when the mall opened on Thursday morning with patrons flocking to Pick n Pay’s hot food section way before lunchtime.
Opening specials also attracted hundreds of potential customers milling through the mall. One or two complained that the goods were too expensive, but others left with full trolleys.
The nearby four-storey office block comprises 10 000m² of modern and well-finished working space.
The Southern Sun StayEasy hotel boasts 104 rooms with a dining and bar area and splash pool set in what promises to be lush gardens. While the rooms are compact, the finishes, decor and furnishings, including a wall-mounted flat screen television, are superb, given a single room will cost you just over $100 a night. This includes breakfast only as the whole idea is for patrons to stroll over to the mall for a meal, thereby supporting the food offering available. It is also envisaged that workers in the office block will find this attractive together with the fast food outlet option.
Levy Business Park is Zambia’s first fully enclosed mall, first of its kind and largest mixed-use development and is expected to create over 1,000 jobs.
Levy Business Park is situated at the intersection of Church and Kabelenga roads – a flat site in a centrally situated light industrial area of Lusaka. It’s a place where people work, shop, eat and play – a beacon in the community, the jewel of Lusaka.
