Embracing change

Think back about 15 years ago, in Ballito. If you wanted to do your weekly grocery shopping you plodded down to the Spar in downtown Ballito. If you needed to spruce up your wardrobe you made the trek to Umhlanga or Durban. Now think of the present: we are spoiled for choice, with three major malls on Ballito drive alone and a boutique mall in Salt Rock. The impending renovation of the Ballito Junction looks set to change the face of shopping radically. In this, the second of our two-part series on the shopping industry in ballito, we look to the future.

In the first part of the series we told the story of Ballito developers Bruce and Paul Rencken. The Rencken brothers are the brains behind the now-iconic Lifestyle Shopping Centre, Ballito’s first major shopping hub. The establishment of Lifestyle 12 years ago was the first in a line of development for Ballito; back then, patrons drove on a two-lane road with three traffic circles. Today, we whizz by on a six-lane interchange with traffic lights.
With Lifestyle as the epicentre, Ballito began to grow: business parks, a precinct behind Lifestyle and most recently a Virgin Active and McDonald’s adjacent to the interchange – both of which have the Rencken handprint.
The Ballito Junction cropped up, another al fresco shopping environment – though not as large as Lifestyle, equally popular with residents. This was followed by the beleaguered Ballito Bay Mall, which has struggled to get off the ground.

“Lifestyle is, and always will be focused on convenience and simplicity of your everyday shopping experience,” said Bruce. “It reflects life the Ballito way: easy access, on-grade parking right outside your store, all the stores you need for your everyday shopping, sunshine and open air…it celebrates where we live, in a relaxed al fresco environment.”
He added that the average Ballito person visits Lifestyle three to four times a week. It is the heartbeat of Ballito. The place where you just bump into a friend and have a cup of coffee. With the new, bigger and better Woolworths Food store launched 10 months ago and the future expansion of Lifestyle Superspar, Ballito is spoilt when it comes
to your food shopping experience all in one convenient location.” Ballito is growing rapidly; it was a seaside holiday village and is now a town, and sometime in the future it may well even be a city. “If we embrace the opportunities and this change and are committed to responsible growth and development, where Ballito, its people and environment always retain the number one spot, we are going to have many incredible years in Ballito: really, the best place in the world to live!”

The expansion of the Ballito Junction has been a murmur for a few years now, but only late last year did it become a reality. Developers are already on site for the multi-million transformation, which appears to have divided residents in opinion. While some feel the development is only a natural progression for Ballito and will serve the community and economy well, others feel it is unnecessary – with Umhlanga only twenty minutes away – and Ballito does not have sufficient infrastructure to handle the new mall.

At a recent networking lunch developers Pat Flanagan and Carl Jankowitz addressed that all-important question: why Ballito?
“We subscribe to markets,” Flanagan said. “There is untapped potential in Ballito and we believe the new mall could be a catalyst for future growth. Having said that we are sensitive about stepping into a new environment and we want the mall to fit in with the urban environment, not stand out as a distraction. If anything, we want to work with existing malls to optimise value.”

The mall extension stems from a study conducted by Menlyn Maine, which deduced that Ballito residents were spending up to R450m at malls outside of Ballito. Plans are illustrious for the 70 000m2, three-level contemporary shopping centre expected to open in March 2017. The modern, ergonomic design incorporates elements of glass and brick with an abundance of open spaces, where the sea can be glimpsed from. The developers are also looking to make Wi-Fi access a priority.

Residents of Salt Rock and surrounds are well catered for by Tiffany’s Shopping Centre. Manager Nicky Vorster is also confident that the centre will remain firmly in the hearts of the community. “The centre was established in 2012
so as to offer the local residents of Salt Rock, Sheffield Beach, Umhlali Village and Tinley Manor a complete and convenient shopping experience, on their doorstep. Our vision has been realised over the last three years and we currently have an extremely good mix of businesses at Tiffany’s offering food, fashion, home, services and body
and soul, including the services of a doctor, dentist, optometrist, health shop and gym. There is also ample open and under cover parking. Tiffany’s Shopping Centre IS the centre for shopping convenience, on the Dolphin Coast.”

Yes, Ballito is growing; before we know it there will be no need for a trip into Umhlanga at all, we will have it all right here. Growth and change are generally good, but we hope we are not extending beyond capacity, only time will tell. As much as we are excited by the new big names coming, we must never forget the locals who have carried this town forever. I doubt we will: as we are all still very local driven.