Milnerton residents are gearing up for the imminent reopening of the Centre Point Shopping Centre.
Facebook groups from Milnerton have been buzzing after seeing a leaflet from Pick n Pay saying its store in the mall will be opening on Thursday September 27.
The official opening of the mall itself has yet to be announced.
The Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which owns the centre, held a roof-wetting in November last year, when it predicted the centre would be open by the end of July this year.
At the time, PIC spokesman Sekgoela Sekgoela said the whole contract value for the development of Centre Point was about R270 million.
“There will be approximately 45 stores, 48 residential apartments and around 400 parking bays,” he said.
The centre was demolished in 2013 (“Derelict shopping centre pulled down,” Tabletalk, April 17 2013) and now, five years later, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.
The July opening date has come and gone and the PIC hasn’t announced a new one, but that hasn’t stopped locals from counting down the days to the opening of Pick n Pay.
On Sunday September 23, Milnerton resident Lynette Shapiro posted “4 days till Centre Point opens” on the Milnerton Neighbours Facebook page.
Another resident, Karen Mitchell, said that she had seen the Pick * Pay staff in their uniforms in the area already and was excited at the prospect of the shop opening.
Alison Karon said that looking at the front steps – all jagged and uneven – and the plastic still stuck on the wall tiles outside, she was not holding her breath for an opening this week.
A Milnerton resident approached Tabletalk recently, asking whether the centre would be disabled-friendly. We put that question to Mr Sekgoela, who said the new Centre Point had been designed to accommodate all people, including those with disabilities.
“ As a matter of fact, there is a ramp at the front entrance of the centre and lifts in the basements and between floors to cater for those with a disability.
“The centre will be open to anyone wishing to visit and shop there, including those who wish to rent apartments above the centre,” he said.
PIC, along with the Government Employees Pension Fund will be at the centre today, Wednesday, September 26, for a walkabout to inspect if all is in place for the opening, which is to be announced soon.
Pick n Pay did not respond to messages left for their communications department by the time this issue went to print.
