Gucci, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana are among the international luxury brands that have opened stores at the Oceans Mall in Umhlanga, South Africa. The R1.3 billion ($87 million) mall is part of the larger R4.3 billion Oceans Umhlanga mixed-use development, which includes a Radisson Blu hotel and luxury apartment towers. The Platinum Walk section of the mall, which was inspired by Johannesburg’s Diamond Walk, has seen the addition of approximately 20 new stores. Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Emporio Armani, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Paul & Shark, GAP, Mont Blanc, and SA knitwear brand MaXhosa are among the international brands available in the mall.
The mall has 120 stores, restaurants, and other outlets and is anchored by JSE-listed Shoprite and Woolworths, which each have six store brands represented, including a flagship Checkers FreshX supermarket and one of South Africa’s first Checkers Outdoor stores. Coco Safar, Signature Restaurant, and Tiger’s Milk are among the other new businesses in the area.
Oceans Mall has been dubbed “Dubai in Durban,” and it is widely regarded as a game changer for KwaZulu-Natal. It competes with nearby major malls and community shopping centres such as Old Mutual’s Gateway Theatre of Shopping, Growthpoint’s La Lucia Mall, the adjacent Pearls of Umhlanga shopping centre, Emira Property Fund’s Granada Square, and Umhlanga Shopping Centre.
The Gateway Theatre of Shopping, which has struggled to secure super-luxury fashion houses to take up space, is undergoing a multi-million-rand upgrade, primarily to its “Great Hall.” The defensive move comes in the face of competition from Investec’s Cornubia Mall, located just across the N2 highway, near Mount Edgecombe. The Gateway Upgrade does not include an expansion because the centre underwent a R750 million extension in 2018, which was completed in 2018.
The Oceans Umhlanga development is one of South Africa’s largest mixed-use developments. It represents a significant vote of confidence in Durban, particularly in light of the devastating riots in July 2021 and the KZN floods last year. The mall, a five-star Radisson Blu Hotel, luxury apartment towers, and a yet-to-be-launched supercar dealership are all part of the project. The mall is unique in South Africa because it has 65% black tenants and 100% black ownership, with the Public Investment Corporation as a co-shareholder.
According to Vivian Reddy, a billionaire property developer who co-developed the mall, the investment created at least 1,300 permanent jobs in Durban. Reddy goes on to say that the long-term plan was for similar developments. “These are international companies investing, which means more jobs for Durban and the surrounding areas.” The mall created 3,500 construction jobs and 1,250 permanent jobs. “This mall is unique in that it is the only luxury mall in South Africa with 65% black tenants and is 100% black-owned,” he said.
According to Reddy, the Platinum Walk section of Oceans Mall introduces several international luxury fashion brands to the Durban and KwaZulu-Natal markets for the first time, complete with destination stores. He goes on to say that the new Lux section is modelled after Sandton City’s Diamond Walk.
The Oceans Mall, with its diverse tenant mix, international brands, and emphasis on luxury fashion, is a significant development for the region. Its success will undoubtedly encourage additional investment in Durban and the surrounding areas, thereby creating much-needed jobs and driving the local economy.
