Local flagship mall Vincent Park shopping centre turned 50 on October 1.
Vincent Park opened in October 1972 and has a rich legacy that is intertwined with the development of the city.
It was formerly a hotel before it was purchased in the 70s by Old Mutual and converted into a shopping mall with Pick n Pay as its anchor tenant.
Since its establishment, the centre has grown to 37,000m² of trading space with over 80 tenants, including all of the major banks, South African retail brands and international fashion retailer H&M. Vincent Park is an industry leader as it is recognised nationally through the South African Council of Shopping Centres annual Footprint Marketing Awards.
Over the years the mall has become synonymous with family values and Mariaan Hartwig, the marketing manager, said throughout the year they had tried to build on this.
The events hosted at the mall such as the hey!Clay! pop-up workshops were designed to give local families an opportunity to try new experiences together and build memories tied to the mall.
Joseph Parsley, portfolio manager for Vincent Park, said the East London community has been an integral part of Vincent Park’s success and the mall supported the local economy by providing businesses with a platform from which to trade as well as employment for hundreds of locals.
In addition to Pick n Pay, both Wimpy and Chez François were initial anchor businesses in the mall. Chez François also celebrated 50 years on October 1 and principle stylist Candice Wittstock said the salon had benefited greatly from its place in the mall.
“Being in the mall has been perfect for the salon because we get walk-ins all the time, which is good for business. Our spot exposes us to a wide range of clients. Our patrons are wonderful and we wish the mall and ourselves 50 more years of success.”
The salon hopes the next 50 years will allow it to grow to employ more stylists and invest in the retail sector.
