NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 20 – The Junction Shopping Centre on Nairobi’s Ngong Road is to be expanded at a cost of Sh800 million to meet the growing demand for new space in Nairobi.
Already under construction and scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2011, the ultra-modern expansion will consist of fashion shops and departmental stores, banking halls, themed restaurants, cafes, casino, gym, children’s play area and additional 200 parking spaces plus other amenities totaling 230,000 square feet of lettable area.
“The new mall will offer bigger choice and variety for the target customers, all under one roof. It will be the shopping destination of choice for shoppers in the city,” said Ben Woodhams, the Managing Director of Knight Frank which will be managing the centre and leasing space in the mall’s new extension.
Demand for more space in the city has in the last three years grown, spurred by a resurgent economy and property developers are trying to respond to this demand.
Speaking during an inspection of the on-going works at the mall, Mr Woodhams said the new facility was also an indication of increased purchasing power among Kenya\’s emerging middle-class with disposable income to spend.
The centre’s 85,000 square foot extension, built on two acres of land is expected to house about 50 new tenants, and is evidence of a growing appetite for shopping space in the city and its suburbs.
Mr Woodhams said the facility will have distinctive features that will offer comfort, luxury and modernity.
“This new extension is the place where various famous local and international brand names will converge. Among popular brands that have reserved space in the new facility is the Deacons group and its associated brands. Others include Palacina Interiors, Lintons, Safaricom and CFC Stanbic Bank,” he said.
Also meant to provide more sub-anchor space to the existing facility, the new extension will present a one-stop shop experience, offering diversity and choice for shoppers.
The Junction is one of the best performing malls with a traffic average of 9,000 on weekdays and twice the number on weekends due to its location. The Junction serves the suburban areas of Kilimani, Ngong Road, Westlands, Lavington, Kileleshwa and even the far-flung Karen.
Knight Frank Kenya currently manages over 400 prime market residential units and over 1.5 million square feet of commercial property, controlling the upper end of the residential and commercial markets in Kenya.
