Blue Jacket mall gets facelift
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday August 23, 2022 06:00
Development started in June to see to upgrades that include the introduction of an escalator, the first floor being made more appealing, as well as the addition of more retail space.
Briefing the media recently, Khumo Properties property manager for retail, Miriam Nkitseng, said they are working around the clock to make the mall attractive. “We are operating in a competitive environment and remaining relevant is key hence why we are upgrading our malls. We will be moving some retailers to the upper floor and will be adding more shops.
The mall will gain more footprint and is strategically located by the bus rank,” she said. Upon completion, Nkitseng said, the mall will have two functional floors, unlike in the past when the first floor was vacant, as previously there was a lull in office rental resulting from a complete halt of business due to the pandemic. “The first floor has been vacant and we had to come up with strategies to fill these spaces. We are confident and feel positive about our developments,” she said. Khumo Properties are currently managing three malls which include Airport Junction Mall and Rail Park Mall in Gaborone, as well as the Blue Jacket Square in Francistown which are said to be doing well.
According to Nkitseng, they always upgrade their shopping centres, noting that Rail Park Mall has also been redeveloped, with the addition of seats at the food court, as well as the addition of stalls for informal traders.
Airport Junction Mall is also being redeveloped and being re-aligned as the mall has been experiencing more vacancies. “We keep looking at what is working and what needs to be done. After COVID-19, food courts were mostly affected so we are trying to come up with ways to make this work,” she said. Khumo Properties is a joint venture between Botswana Insurance Fund Management and Eris Property Group of South Africa.
The venture specialises in facility management, property development, retail management, as well as investment broking.