Wandering through the various shopping malls in Windhoek, one might easily forget that one is actually in Africa.
Maerua Mall is Windhoek’s biggest shopping mall where any shopper can spend a delightful morning. Many of the big South African chain stores have branches here and the shops offer similar stock as stores in South Africa. Some of the clothing shops include Edgars, Truworths, Mr Price and Stuttafords.
There also is a variety of home decor shops, restaurants, hair salons and other speciality shops.
What makes shopping in Namibian malls unique, is the fact that these malls are typically not as sprawling and intimidating as big shopping malls and centres in Europe or the United States. The malls in Windhoek maintain a compact design and offers a sense of community.
On the shelves of grocery shops like Woernmann & Brock the shopper will also find a delightful variety of imported German delicatessens, freshly baked German style Brötchens, a variety of German bread like Graubröt and Dreikornbröt, and a variety of Namibian cold meats made in the typical German way.
In Windhoek’s city centre Wernhil Park offers yet another enticing adventure in mall shopping with quaint coffee shops where a variety of freshly baked pastries, freshly squashed fruit juice and the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee awaits.
One of the beacons in Windhoek’s Central Business District for the past 16 years, the Wernhil Park Shopping Centre plays host to 70 shops. After recent extentions to the centre, about 7 000 square metres additional retail space was added, while ceilings, tiles, lighting, lifts and shop fronts had been replaced.
Additional parking bays were also added to ensure adequate parking to the clients of the centre.
Sven Thieme, Executive Chairman of the Ohlthaver & List Group, at the inauguration ceremony described investments as a pillar of the group’s vision of enhancing living conditions and socio-economic wealth by being a builder of innovative and sustainable businesses. “In doing so, we continuously support Namibia’s vision of a prosperous and industrialized Namibia developed by her human resources, enjoying peace, harmony and political stability,” Thieme said.
The shopping centre takes its name after Ohlthaver & List stalwarts Werner List and his wife Hildegard, and was built more than sixteen years ago as part of the Talstrassen project.
“Windhoek’s core Central Business District seems to be experiencing a revival evidenced by an increase in foot traffic and retailer turnovers. This revival was predominantly driven by the redevelopment of Wernhil Park, which is aptly described as the pulse of the city. “The added value we have given to Windhoek’s City Centre now amounts to over N$ 300 million in investments over the past four years, with the hope to invest even more in the CBD in the future,” Thieme commented.
By Estelle de Bruyn
