With just over a week before Walvis Bay’s new shopper’s paradise, Dunes Mall, opens its doors, we catch some of the pre-opening day excitement and jitters from Adelene van der Westhuizen

What is happening on site in these last couple of weeks?
From an asset-management side, our property-management team, specifically our operations team, is running around on site to ensure that generators, sub-stations, air conditioners, fire sprinkler and fire systems, CCTVs and toilets, to name only a few of the facilities, are installed and in working order to run a fully functional mall by 26 October. Our marketing team, meanwhile, is making sure the excitement builds up to opening day with wonderful entertainment planned for the opening weekend as well as tenant, contractor and VIP functions. The finance team is finalising the first budget together with the first billing cycle that has to be issued prior to the opening.

Are all the tenants who need to open on schedule?
Most of them are on track to open on the 26th; the last two weeks are always tough and crazy! Everyone is pushing hard, working 24 hours a day to ensure that the stores open as promised.

What is the vibe in town about the mall… is there much excitement?
Yes, very much so! Our Facebook page, for instance, has grown substantially over the last two months since we started our Facebook campaign. The public is very active and people are commenting on all the posts with positive, enthusiastic messages. Everyone is looking forward to having quality shopping right on their doorstep; Dunes spells the end of having to travel long distances to do one’s shopping.

How many shops will open on the day? What is the rate of occupancy?
On opening day it is expected that 85% of the mall will be open for business; this is expected to increase to 95% by 1 December.  All the anchor tenants will be trading, as will Dischem. Spur will be welcoming patrons on opening day, while the other restaurants are on track to open between now and the end of the year. On opening day everyone will have a bite to eat and something to drink while enjoying all the other great shops the mall has to offer.

Are there shops in Dunes Mall that have never before had a footprint in Namibia?
No, all the shops have a presence in Namibia, but not all of them have been close and there are a few firsts for the area. Dischem, for instance, only opened recently in Swakopmund.

Have there been any last-minute challenges that are now being ironed out? Were there any major headaches over the last couple of months?
There are always challenges as the big day approaches! One of these is when a tenant indicates that they might not be ready on opening day… so then asset management and the leasing and the project teams push as hard as possible to ensure people honour the commitments they made, so that the public receives what was promised. The biggest challenge is being so far from site – we can’t just pop across to check up on progress. Luckily we have capable property management teams on site who act as our eyes and ears.

What is being planned for the grand opening? Take us through the planned highlights?
The week will start with a function for all our tenants, contractors, professional teams and stakeholders, to thank everyone who’s been involved.  Our aim is to make this centre part of the community, the most convenient shopping destination in town with everything you need under one roof. To this end, the community newspaper will publish details of all the specials as the opening approaches. There will be kiddies’ entertainment, with a unique play area and activities; there will be giveaways and freebies and many great specials. The Governor of the region together with the Mayor of Walvis Bay will attend the ribbon cutting and VIP function on opening day. The entertainment will continue for the whole weekend following the opening.

After the opening festivities, next in line is the installation of Christmas décor and the switching on of the Christmas lights at the centre.

Dunes Mall in numbers

3 487 000: number of bricks used to build Dunes Mall

1 464 300:  number of paving bricks used for the parking area

28 000: in sqm the size of Dunes mall

80: the number of stores the mall will feature once fully occupied