R850m Springs Mall Breaks Ground
The R850 million Springs Mall at Blue Crane Eco Park officially broke ground on Wednesday, and about 52,000sqm of retail space would be added to Springs area in Ekurhuleni in the east of Gauteng when it opens in 2016.
The sod-turning ceremony was hosted by developers and joint venture owners Flanagan & Gerard Developments, Blue Crane Mall (Pty) Ltd and the family of Giuricich Brothers.
The event attended by the Executive Mayor of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Mondli Gungubele, and Dr Luigi Diodati of the Italian Embassy, amongst other VIPs.
Springs Mall is the vision of Springs businessman Franco D’Arrigo. The D’Arrigo family has lived in Springs for three generations and is passionately invested in the future of this city.
Patrick Flanagan of Flanagan and Gerard said the mall is an answer to the shopping needs of a growing community that is underserved by retail.
The mall will also create an enduring legacy of positive social and economic impacts in the city and the region, for many years to come.
Right now, between R300 million to R500 million in retail revenue draining out of the city, as local residents take their valuable spend elsewhere. It will boost the Springs economy by R1.2 billion. It will also create valuable employment opportunities.
“Local employment is a priority,” reports Franco D’Arrigo. “We’re working hard to ensure the Springs community benefits from the mall’s construction and the operation of its retailers. During its construction, the mall is estimated to create between 500 and 700 jobs. After it opens, it will create further 1,200 to 1,500 sustainable jobs.”
It will offer a shopping experience with two national supermarket chains as anchor tenants, complemented by two large national fashion retailers. Added to this will be a wide range of appealing fashion, homeware, health and beauty, gifting and décor outlets, restaurants and important everyday services.
The retail centre is positioned in the suburb of Casseldale. It benefits from a prime position at the intersection of the N17 highway and R51/Wit Road. It will offer accessibility off Jan Smuts Road and frontage on the N17 highway.
Added to this is the convenience of free open-air parking on both its shopping levels with easy shopper access from both parking areas, through four entrances.
Springs Mall will cater for shoppers in its primary market of greater Springs including residents from Casseldale, Strubenvale, Pollak Park, New Era, Edelweiss, Selection Park, Nuffield, Selcourt, Sharon Park, Dunnottar, Brenthurst, Geduld, Petersfield, East Geduld, Bakerton, Welgedacht, and Paul Krugersoord.
These people are mainly middle- to high-income earning consumers, from LSM 4 to 10+.