A third centre of China Town to open in Parow beginning of April
Cape Town at Ottery and Sable Square.
The China Towns in Cape Town, at Ottery and Sable Square, continue to grow and have become established as popular shopping nodes for people looking for a varied and value for money shopping experience.
According to Steve Kruger a member of the consortium that developed and owns China Town, the China Town Trust, “The opening of China Town at Sable Square has had a tremendously positive impact, increasing the foot count here dramatically, which has resulted in the shops that are not part of China Town and were struggling now being able to trade steadily.”
To reinforce the feeling of prosperity and good luck, an annual traditional Chinese blessing of the centres took place on Saturday 11 February, with Mr Shwu-ing Liou of the China Town Trust conducting the blessings. A grand parade of traditional icons accompanied by loud drumming took place through both centres. Apart from the event being exciting for the public to watch, the shopkeepers are also comforted in the belief that this procession will bring prosperity to the centre for the forthcoming year.
Capitalising on the China Town consortium’s success at Ottery and Sable Square, the China Town Trust will be opening a third centre at the beginning of April in Parow.
This will be a large China Town centre measuring over 6 000m² and located in the Shoprite Centre, owned by Redefine, on Voortrekker Road. The architects are MLB, headed up by Xico Mierelles, who, says Kruger, has taken the China Town concept to a new modern and “exciting” level. The official opening date will be announced in the press.
While Ottery is very much a wholesale and retail centre, Sable Square seems to attract more of the retail type shopper, says Kruger, and Parow is likely to attract the same kind of trade.
China Town brings great value to the consumer offering a very wide range of goods including clothing, shoes, bedding, electronics, motor spares, food, toys and much more.
Between the two existing centres there are now over 100 shops and each shop employs at least one local person and in many instances two or more. This has created good employment opportunities in the city. When the Parow centre opens, there will be more than 160 shops between the three centres.
A second phase is planned for Parow, which will bring an additional 60 shops on stream, bringing the total to around 220 shops (again increasing employment opportunities).
