KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna is to get a new R150 million retail development in Main Street, opposite the existing Knysna Mall.
The complex has been two years in the planning and is expected to bring a new convenient shopping experience to the town.
Milkwood Square, a 5100sqm development, will have a brand new, top-specification Checkers FreshX supermarket as its anchor tenant.
John Hamman, a director of ReefRock Asset Management, said the development has taken two years of planning to get to this stage - where all the necessary approvals from the Knysna Municipality are now almost in place.
The team expect construction to commence in earnest by the end of the month.
Milkwood Square is being developed in a joint venture between ReefRock Asset Management and Dorpstraat, from Stellenbosch.
“We saw an opportunity to add a truly convenient retail offering to the Knysna market, with planning for the development starting back in 2022 when two properties were acquired,” said Hamman.
Design process
The design process presented many challenges, largely due to the erven not being flat and the team being absolutely focused on ensuring a convenient experience could be delivered to customers for years to come.
However, the relentless efforts of the professional team and developer overcame these challenges and has resulted in a fantastic shopping centre being designed for development.
“We have been involved in developing several shopping centres in the Western Cape and considered about 30 different options to get to the final design for Milkwood Square,” said Hamman.
Village atmosphere
“It will be in keeping with the village atmosphere and heritage of Knysna. A key feature which we will retain - and after which the development is named - is an old Milkwood tree, outside the current Steers building [which is to be demolished to make way for the development].
“We will retain this protected tree as part of the natural heritage of the development.”
It will be a small, relevant shopping area with about 190 parking bays, which will offer an easy and convenient shopping experience, with a real focus on ensuring that the convenience factor is catered for.
“Milkwood Square is not a big centre; it will have a village feel where the community can enjoy a coffee, a high-quality supermarket shopping experience as well as many other convenient and relevant retail offerings. It will definitely be strengthening the central retail node of the town,” said Etienne Eygenberger, director of Dorpstraat.
The location also offers customers the convenience of crossing the road to access additional shops in the Knysna Mall.
“It will add and positively contribute to the retail shopping experience in Knysna,” according to Eygenberger.
Retail node
The Knysna Mall already attracts people to the town centre and this development will be a further magnet for shoppers to visit the main retail node of Knysna.
The development - in keeping with the village atmosphere of Knysna - will not be a high-rise mall, but a community-focused convenience strip mall, with 21 shops. These include the anchor tenant Checkers FreshX and Checkers Liquor, a leading bank, Clicks, Checkers Outdoor, Whitehouse, the Crazy Store, Steers/Debonairs, plus two other fast-food franchises - as well as a high-end coffee shop.
“It will provide a strong tenant mix to deliver the most convenient shopping experience,” added Hamman.
The planned opening date of the centre is June/July 2025.
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