It follows current work to accommodate a 6 000m² Edgars store, opening on October 28, as part of a move by top-rated Edcon group to boost its presence in the KwaZulu/Natal market.
Steven Whiley, financial director for Game and Dion's, says Gateway is perceived to be in its ascendancy as a major regional retail destination.
"Gateway presents exciting prospects for the future and with its retail mix changing and growing, Game needs to be there. At 6 600m², the store will be one of the larger formats of a Game store. It has been designed to cope with expected future growth."
Brent Wiltshire, retail executive of Old Mutual Properties, the developers and managers of Gateway, says Game's decision is yet another indication of confidence in the centre.
"The fact is that growth in turnover by businesses at Gateway has regularly outstripped increases reported by the industry body, the Retail Liaison Committee. As a result Gateway space has been in great demand. Between January and June, Gateway's own leasing team under Laura Timm signed leases for 3 400m². This includes a Nike concept store, Pentravel and an Alpha Pharm - Citigate Pharmacy. Green Cross and Rage are also due to open doors in September this year, followed by Edgars in October and Game in November.
"A further expansion by the Foschini Group at Gateway will include a 300m² Markhams. The group recently opened five stores - Foschini, Donna Claire, the RJL division of Markhams, Sports Scene and Totalsports. These are major and valued additions to the tenant offering to consumers and should help boost the flow of visits to Gateway."
The centre which attracts more than 20 million shopper visits a year, also saw the recent opening of a Jet store by the Edcon Group.
Michael Kerkhoff & Associates on behalf of Old Mutual Properties
