A top South African shopping mall is completely empty except for one fascinating store
The multi-million-rand Lancaster Shopping Centre in Johannesburg is entirely empty except for one interesting store serving a unique community.
The Lancaster Shopping Centre, located on Jan Smuts Avenue in Craighall, is within a 10km radius of Hyde Park, Sandhurst, and Craighall.
The shopping mall built a reputation for convenience and accessibility, serving the surrounding community.
It is known for its good visibility, ample parking, and convenient access from major roads, making it a popular shopping destination.
The Lancaster Shopping Centre previously featured anchor tenants like Pick’n Pay and Planet Fitness, along with various eateries and speciality shops.
Fieldspace Property Group, the owner of the four-storey shopping centre, refurbished the facility in 2022.
These refurbishments transformed the mall into a modern neighbourhood centre, retaining its convenience and charm.
The revamp included a facelift to make it more appealing and opened it to Jan Smuts Avenue, creating a visual connection to the busy road.
MDS Architecture partner Chad Sampson told Construction World that the new design created a contemporary aesthetic.
“It incorporates copper cladding and vintage elements such as black, grey and orange colours on the exterior,” he said.
“Branding also has a vintage feel on all signage. Greenery along the open areas facing the street softens the building and entices visitors.”
The group explained that the shopping mall offers abundant parking and round-the-clock security, which enhances safety and peace of mind for all visitors.
It added that it comprises several well-established shops and is ideally positioned next to prominent office parks, attracting steady foot traffic.
The Lancaster Shopping Centre is nearly entirely empty
The Lancaster Shopping Centre lost two of its anchor tenants, Pick n Pay and Planet Fitness. The latter had a high-end gym in the centre.
In March 2024, Pick ‘n Pay permanently closed its store in the centre as part of its turnaround strategy.
Pick ‘n Pay had been an anchor tenant in the shopping mall for decades, which dealt a significant blow to the property.
Without the Pick’n Pay and the Planet Fitness, the shopping centre took a knock.
Today, the Lancaster Shopping Centre is nearly entirely empty as the Fieldspace Property Group explores redevelopment opportunities.
“We welcome redevelopment opportunities, joint ventures or leasing proposals from large anchor tenants interested in occupying the entire building,” it said.
The Fieldspace Property Group highlighted that the shopping mall is situated within an area ranked in the top 1% nationally by the Living Standards Measure (LSM).
Due to its prime location, the Lancaster Shopping Centre is well positioned to attract a high-income, quality-focused customer base.
There are also many nearby amenities and attractions, including educational facilities, upscale residential areas, and a variety of nearby restaurants.
The only store in the Lancaster Shopping Centre
The Lancaster Shopping Centre currently has only one store, Top Deck, which opened on 31 May 2019.
Top Deck specialises in collectable card games, such as Magic: The Gathering, and other gaming products.
Magic: The Gathering is a fantasy-themed trading card game created by mathematician Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast in 1993.
It’s widely considered the first collectable card game and remains one of the most popular and complex strategy games in the world.
Apart from Magic: The Gathering products, Top Deck also offers trading card game accessories, Pokémon cards, and board games.
The online store, delivering across South Africa, offers products aimed at both casual and serious card collectors and traders.
Top Deck also run Magic: The Gathering leagues and tournaments at their shop in the Lancaster Shopping Centre.
Although it was the only store in the four-story Lancaster Shopping Centre, it did not seem out of place, considering its unique character.
Lancaster Shopping Centre photos
Top Deck photos
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