Africa's burgeoning demand for shopping malls
Over the last decade, there has a burgeoning demand for modern shopping centers across Africa.
This simply tells the story of a growing middle class in many African countries with increased spending power.
The urban centers are seeing a facelift in its retail therapy with South African giant retailers such as Shoprite and Game being the go-to giant retailers in the growing consumer market.
According to a study done by McKinsey, Africa’s spending power will be over $1 trillion by 2020, up from over $800 billion in 2008 as major African cities continue to experience rapid urbanization.
Major urban centers across the continent have seen a construction boom take hold and the world of shopping is at the heart of it.
Africa.com research shows that if you want to enjoy some retail therapy across the continent, below malls and markets are the ones to visit.
Two Rivers Mall
This facility is situated on Limuru Road. The location is near the affluent neighborhoods. The Two Rivers Mall is East Africa’s largest mall. The shopping complex covers 65,000 square meters, placing the Garden City Mall on Thika Road as the second largest mall in Kenya. There is a wide array of shops available, including French retail giant Carrefour, as well as luxury fashion brands Zara and LC Waikiki, luxury jewelry brand Swarovski, giant apparel and sneaker stores Nike, Adidas and Mr. Price, as well as popular indoor entertainment provider Magic Planet. Kenyan brands that operate in the mall include Nove Coffee Roasters and The Designer Studio.
The mall opened in February 2017 and was a $10 million project partly owned by the investment company Centum.
Gateway Theatre of Shopping
The Gateway Theatre of Shopping, located in Umhlanga Rocks in the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, is the largest mall in the Southern Hemisphere and on the continent, covering 220,000 square meters with over 390 stores and 70 eateries.
Gateway Theatre of Shopping opened in 2001 and has a wide array of South African and international fashion brands like Mr. Price, Zara, and Forever New. The mall features an 18-cinema Ster Kinekor complex, IMAX Theatre, as well as entertainment such as the Tony Hawk Skate Park which features a near-vertical ramp and two concrete bowls, as well as the Wave House, which is used by local surfers, body-boarders and wakeboarders to have fun in the water while honing their surfing skills. The mall also has a hotel – The Gateway Hotel, making it easy for visitors to enjoy all the amenities of the mall complex, and all that Umhlanga Rocks has to offer.
West Hills Mall
The West Hills Mall, located about 50 minutes outside of the Accra Central Business District (CBD) in Ghana, is one of the largest malls in West Africa. West Hills Mall covers 23 acres (over 93,000 square meters) and has a great blend of local Ghanaian and South African as well as international brands, with major stores being Shoprite, Edgars, and Palace. The mall also has a large entertainment and recreational gallery that can host open-air concerts and theatre shows. The West Hills Mall opened in 2014, and it was a $93 million project by Delico Property Investments, Social Security, and National Insurance Trust.
Mall of Arabia
The Mall of Arabia is one of the largest malls in Egypt. It is located in Cairo and has over 900 stores including popular brands such as Zara, Mango, and LC Waikiki, as well as a wide variety of restaurants and coffee shops, along with the hypermarket Spinny’s. It is home to Egypt’s first dancing fountain that displays a sound and light show in the evenings until 11 p.m.
The Mall of Arabia is so big that you’ll need a couple of days to see it in its entirety. Popular days to visit the mall include Fridays and Saturdays.
Game City Mall
Game City Mall is the biggest and busiest mall in Botswana, located in the country’s capital, Gaborone. Game City Mall covers over 50,000 square meters and has been operational since 2003. The mall has a variety of specialty stores, fashion stores, and restaurants, including popular clothing retailers Edgars, Levi’s, and Nike, along with the large department store Game. Restaurants include popular franchises KFC, Chicken Licken, and Nandos.
Novare Lekki Mall
The Novare Lekki Mall, located in Lagos, Nigeria, is the biggest mall in Africa’s most populous city. The mall opened in August 2016 to cater to the rapidly urbanizing district of Lekki. It was an $83 million project by Novare Real Estate Africa and spans 22,000 square meters. Anchor stores include Shoprite and Game. Other signature stores include Nike, Swatch, and Levi’s. The mall also offers a cinema, an entertainment center, and event-hosting capabilities.
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