Hillcrest Corner has commenced construction work for phase one of their expansion project, which should be completed by the end of September 2015.
The five-month period will deliver some inconvenience to shoppers; however, the property owners, Acucap Investments and Shoprite Checkers Group, have spent more than a year planning ways to minimise inconvenience to customers while still achieving the project’s objectives.
“The change was inspired by the growing community needs and our commitment to delivering a relevant and constantly-improved community/convenience shopping experience” said Bev Wilson, a spokesperson for the owners.
The project ultimately consists of an extensive reconfiguration of the first floor retail store mix, with the migration of fashion retailers, Truworths and Foschini, to the new Watercrest Mall. It will also include the building of a new first floor parking deck and the introduction of a new entrance to the first floor mall on the southern end of the building, directly above the current ground floor entrance where Dulce Café is situated.
Once the new parking deck is completed, the intention is to redesign the existing food court area, which currently features Wimpy, Kauai, Burger King and Vida E, along with The Pirates Cove, to deliver a larger and more diverse food offering with a better and more efficient seating arrangement and enhanced kids’ play area.
In order to accommodate the construction of an entirely new parking level, which will provide the shopping centre with an additional 215 parking bays, the ground floor/Checkers parking deck will be closed for a four-month period starting in May. During this time shoppers will use the basement parking which will only be affected by the project in the front bay sections on either side of the Old Main Road entrance. It will be clearly demarcated to assist shoppers in finding their way to the numerous lift foyers. The Woolworths parking level will also be open to shoppers during this time.
The ex-Carol Boyes store (located on the first floor) will be making way for a brand new entrance, which will mean two entrances to the upper level.
New outlets include Baby City and Standard Bank. The spaces vacated by Truworths and Identity are currently under negotiation, and the co-owners of Hillcrest Corner hope to be able to announce exciting new tenants in this area of the upper level mall soon.
While phase one of the construction will cause some significant disruption for the next couple of months, Hillcrest Corner management and its current tenants are determined to work together to provide shoppers, as always, with impeccable service and convenience during this time.
The launch of the much-anticipated phase two extension is due to be announced soon.
