Take a Walk on The Marine Side

Let’s talk shop for a minute. Salta Sibaya, positioned on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, saw the official opening of its exciting retail destination – Marine Walk Shopping Centre. The much-anticipated shopping space was built around the same philosophy of sustainability and environmental consciousness that Durban-based developers Devmco Group have weaved throughout the award-winning Salta Sibaya development.

The first shopping mall of its quality and size in the local area, Marine Walk will no doubt change the landscape of the Sibaya Coastal Precinct for the better by offering residents a safe, convenient and family-centric retail space right on their doorstep.

Many believe that retail is shifting and customers are embracing the move to smaller, more intimate shopping zones. People want to socialise, work, play and shop closer to home prioritising balance and convenience over the allure of larger commercial centres and city mega-malls. There’s a special simplicity in being able to shop, eat or spend leisure time somewhere local, especially when the same brands and services are on offer.

Fresh Take on Retail Therapy

Marine Walk presents a new take on retail therapy and has been curated for the laidback, outdoor coastal culture that’s characteristic of this Dolphin Coast community. This shopping destination is unlike anything previously seen and is breaking traditional mall models with a new wave of open-air design, combining the feel of a European shopping plaza with a wholesome, community boulevard – and Devmco Group has brought the concept to life.

As a lifestyle venue that brings local favourites and communities together, Marine Walk is also the heart of Salta Sibaya within the Sibaya Coastal Precinct. This sought-after coastal region is constantly changing, but nothing will have a greater impact on transforming the landscape than what’s in store at this mixed-use development. True to its mandate of creating a blueprint for estates in the future, Salta has already won coveted international awards and broken sales records.

The Who’s Who of Marine Walk

Some of South Africa’s most popular and loved brands like Dischem, Kauai, Mr Price Home, Woolworths, Spar, Milady’s and Mugg & Bean have opened their doors at this new retail destination, promising shoppers everything they need all under one roof. Marine Walk has also hand-picked a number of local treasures to join the retail community – including Umdloti’s family-run Italian restaurant Casa Nostra, which is celebrating a fresh new start after 27 years in business.

Other local favourites include Waxy O’Connors, Moustache Barber, Petland and Frozen For You, alongside some newer iterations of much-loved retailers like KwaZulu-Natal’s first W.Edit store. As Woolworth’s boutique shop front offering the very best of the brand’s fashion, beauty and homeware ranges, W.Edit is one of the ways the household name is expanding its footprint to smaller malls and locations that wouldn’t necessarily be able to carry the full Woolworths offering.

Be The Change

It’s obvious that Marine Walk Shopping Centre brings convenience, connectivity and local favourites to the Sibaya Coastal Precinct and surrounding areas. It will also bring the opportunity for social change and upliftment.

A new SUPERSPAR has welcomed local residents to a flagship store that is employed and extensively trained 67 previously unemployed staff members. Added to the number of permanent jobs that will be created by the other shops, restaurants and service providers of Marine Walk, the meaningful social impact of Marine Walk – and the larger Salta development – cannot be overemphasised. It’s been estimated that within the Sibaya Coastal Precinct, up to 80,000 jobs will be created over the next 10 years and approximately 10,000 of those will be permanent.

The far-reaching impact of catalytic projects on surrounding communities is exciting. Mixed-use developments and socio-economic regeneration projects like this one provide the foundation for a recovering economy, especially where sustainable job creation is at the top of the agenda.

Devmco Group has set its sights on transforming public spaces within Sibaya Coastal Precinct to strengthen connections between people and where they live, work and socialise. This focus is an intentional move towards a concept in property development called placemaking, where mixed-use facilities provide business, retail, residences and leisure all in one place. Now, with the official opening of Marine Walk, this vision is becoming a reality.