There’s a hole in the wall under the roof top parking, the underground parking has been closed off and a number of areas are hoarded off with the sounds of clanging and banging echoing behind it. Yes, the new-look Lifestyle Centre is taking shape!

Work is well underway to upgrade the area outside the Woolworths and Home Etc., with these stores continuing to trade as per normal. Work is expected to be completed here around mid-July, and Melissa’s, a much-anticipated offering from Cape Town, will be opening their doors in this gorgeous new area in mid-August. This will be the first Melissa’s store in KZN, incorporating both a food store and coffee shop.

Artist’s impression of the new paving, landscaping and hardscaping outside Woolworths Foods, Melissa’s and Home Etc.

Another exciting offering will be the new Chateau Gateaux Patisserie, located around the lifts to the rooftop parking, and also due to open mid-August. Ballito can look forward to quality gateaux and desserts, hand-crafted by a skilled team of pastry chefs, using the finest and freshest ingredients. Close by, local boutique White Summer and Plettenberg Bay-based Holiday (formerly Harbour Bay) will be making their stylish and niche fashion available to Lifestyle shoppers from August.

Artist’s impression of the new Chateau Gateaux

Home Etc., Absolute Pets, Origins and Cranberries have all moved into new premises and Gerald Wells Hair Professionals are also in the process of moving – their new store will be located next to Woolworths, while a new Gerald Wells Barber Shop will be located next to Alpha Pharm. Both are set to open mid-July.

At the other side of the centre, the new street-scene, family fine-dining area is taking shape. Mythos, Lupa and Salsa will be adding Greek, Italian and Mexican flavours to the Ballito restaurant scene; joining the ever-popular Beira Alta, Zaras and John Dory’s, who continue to trade through the construction period, along with Imbizo Art Gallery, Trappers and Cape Union Mart. Adding to the choice of quality restaurants at Lifestyle Centre will be Mo’s Noodles and Robsons Brewery, with Loaf Café also set to reopen in October!

Artist’s impressions of the new restaurant node

Hair 4 U and Scarla May, currently tucked away behind the hoarding, will continue to meet the needs of their clients during the construction, but will be moving around the corner and down the passage to their new and bigger premises in early September.

And what of the other big brands coming to town? Dis-Chem, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Toyzone are all gearing up to open the doors of their brand new stores at the end of August, while Baby City will be moving into the space previously occupied by Mr Price Sport in October.

Artist’s impressions of the new Dis-Chem

While all this on the go, work is also taking place on the development of a unique Food Market that will bring a whole new shopping experience to the Dolphin Coast. Traders such as an organic produce merchant and an artisanal baker, together with a carefully selected array of complementary food offerings, will afford Ballito shoppers the opportunity of purchasing locally grown and created food items for onsite eating, as well as to take home, any day of the week. And opposite this, KZN Midlands-based home store Cookin will be bringing their fine kitchen merchandise to the Dolphin Coast.

Artist’s impressions of the new Market

There certainly is plenty to look forward to in the coming months! Follow Ballito Lifestyle Centre on Facebook to keep up with all the latest news: https://www.facebook.com/ballitolifestylecentre/