From left to right: Bruno Carleo (Putprop Limited), Jason McCormick (MPD), James Smith (Putprop Limited), Neo Chabedi (Exemplar REITail). Front: Maredi J Letsoalo (builder of the computer centre at the Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre)
The 16 500m2 Mamelodi Square in Gauteng opened its doors on Thursday, the 27th of October 2022. Developed by rural and township development experts, McCormick Property Development (MPD), in partnership with Putprop, work on the site began just over a year ago.
The site of the old PUTCO bus depot with direct access off Tsamaya Road, the shopping centre is a prime location as it still plays an integral part of the transport nodes within the area.
The single level, fully enclosed mall includes a tenant mix that speaks to the area’s essential and convenient retail needs. Anchored by Shoprite and Clicks, additional tenants include Capitec, FNB, Shoprite Liquor, Pick n Pay Clothing, JAM, PQ, Jumbo, Power Fashion and KFC.
A kiddies play area and small water play park offer entertainment value for shoppers. Inspired by the geometric shape of a square, the play area will encourage children to climb and explore.
“The benefits of an active lifestyle and spending time outdoors are well known, and we took this as our inspiration when developing the play area,” explains MD of MPD, Jason McCormick. “Aligning with our goals of creating experiential retail, we hope that the play park will become a firm favorite for the community of Mamelodi.”
The mall also offers local township design entrepreneurs the opportunity to trade in the Kasi CoLAB space, rent free. First opened at the iconic Mall of Thembisa, the CoLAB is a retail incubator that provides local township retail entrepreneurs access to market and capital. The Mamelodi CoLAB team consists of seven aspiring entrepreneurs including a second store for local clothing brand #Pozie who will be providing mentorship and guidance for the six Mamelodi brands.
The mall has a unique flavour thanks to the artistic creations of local graffiti artist Kholofelo Makgalemela. Selected via a local artist talent search, she has created a signature graffiti wall that welcomes customers as they enter the centre with her work also visible in the CoLAB space.
Further local development and upliftment initiatives include a partnership with the Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre. “The development of Mamelodi Square provided us with an opportunity to work with representatives of the Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre in order to expand it to include a computer centre,” explains Jason. “In our ongoing mission to drive positive change for good, the relationship with the Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre was an excellent fit.”
Mamelodi Square is the 70th development done by McCormick Property Development, with KwaBhaca Mall and Bizana Walk in the Eastern Cape also opening before the end of 2022. The opening of these three new developments will coincide with the re-opening of phase 2 of Edendale Mall as well as Ezakheni Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal that were both damaged in the July 2021 riots.
