Canal Walk
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}{{Use South African English|date = September 2022}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Canal Walk
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| image = Canal walk cpt.jpg
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| building_type = Shopping mall
| architectural_style = Cape Venetian
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| owner = Hyprop Investment Limited (80%)
Ellerine Bros (Pty) Ltd (20%)
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| location = Century Boulevard, Century City, Cape Town, South Africa{{cite web|url= https://www.capetowngreenmap.co.za/cape-town-green-map-online-map/culture-society-icons/information-centre/canal-walk-visitor-information-centre |title= Canal Walk Visitor Information Centre |author= |publisher= Cape Town Green Map |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
| coordinates = {{coord|33.8946|S|18.5105|E}}
| start_date = {{start date and age|2000}}
| completion_date =
| opening_date = {{start date and age|2000|10|26|df=y}}{{cite web|url= https://gritprop.com/canal-walk-shopping-centre/ |title= Canal Walk Shopping Centre |author= |publisher= Gritprop Investments (Pty) Ltd |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
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| height = 2 stories
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| roof = Domed
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| floor_count = 2
| floor_area = {{convert|141,000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| parking = 8,000+{{cite web|url= https://canalwalk.co.za/page/about-and-centre-management |title= About and Centre Management |author= |publisher= Hyprop |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
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| website = https://canalwalk.co.za
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Canal Walk is a shopping mall located in Cape Town, South Africa. It is part of Century City, a suburb and 250 hectare mixed-use development, built in 1997, that sits alongside the N1 freeway.{{cite web|url= https://canalwalk.co.za/contact |title= Contact Us |author= |publisher= Hyprop |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
The largest mall in the city{{cite web|url= https://top500.co.za/top500-companies/canal-walk-shopping-centre/ |title= About Canal Walk |author= |publisher= Top Media & Communications |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }} and the third largest in Africa, Canal Walk is built in what the developers call "Cape Venetian architecture". The mall features over 400 stores, over 8,000 parking bays, a wide variety of restaurants, and an arcade.
History
Canal Walk was built in October 2000, at an estimated cost of around R1.3 billion. At the time of completion, the mall spanned around 125,000 square meters, and hosted 9,600 square meters of office space.{{cite web|url= https://www.crown.co.za/construction-world/property/18670-iconic-canal-walk-has-much-to-celebrate-on-its-21st-birthday |title= Iconic Canal Walk has much to celebrate on its 21st birthday |author= |publisher= Crown Publications |date= 27 October 2021 |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
The mall is owned by investment companies Hyprop (80%) and Ellerine Bros Ltd (20%).{{cite web|url= https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/property/2023-03-17-hyprops-canal-walk-raked-in-r1bn-turnover-in-december/ |title= Hyprop’s Canal Walk raked in R1bn turnover in December |author= Nico Gous |publisher= BusinessDay |date= 17 March 2023 |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}{{cite web|url= https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/791363/one-of-joburgs-biggest-shopping-malls-is-in-trouble/ |title= One of Joburg’s biggest shopping malls is in trouble |author= Luke Fraser |publisher= BusinessTech |date= 17 September 2024 |access-date= 18 April 2025 }} In 2023, it was Hyprop's strongest performer, generating R1 billion in the month of December.
In 2024, Canal Walk partnered with over 28 local artists and designers, and 200 students, to host an immersive art installation. This included the Blue Butterfly, which was created using over 200,000 beads, by learners from Marconi Bean Primary School, under the guidance of Art Afrique's master beading artist, Thokozani Twala. The installation also featured fynbos artwork, to honor Cape Town's natural beauty.{{cite web|url= https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/canal-walk-shopping-centre-reveals-new-art-installation-for-spring-summer-2024-696661a# |title= Canal Walk Shopping Centre reveals new art installation for Spring & Summer 2024 |author= |publisher= Bizcommunity.com |date= 30 September 2024 |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
Features
Canal Walk is classed as a super-regional mall, and is the only one of that size in the Western Cape province. It is open 7 days a week from 9AM to 9PM - longer hours than the norm for malls in Cape Town.
Canal Walk is home to over 400 stores, spread across almost 150,000 square meters, as well as 12 entrances, and over 8,000 parking bays.{{cite web|url= https://www.capetown.travel/attractions/canal-walk-shopping-centre/ |title= Canal Walk Shopping Centre - About the Attraction |author= |publisher= Cape Town Tourism |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
Categories of retail and services offered at Canal Walk include books, cards, gifts, banking, cellular services, health, hair, beauty, decor, homeware, clothing, jewelry, fitness, toys, technology, food and beverage (including tea and coffee), pets, luggage, and automobiles.{{cite web|url= https://canalwalk.co.za/shops |title= Shops |author= |publisher= Hyprop |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
Anchor tenants include Woolworths, Checkers, Pick n Pay, Game, H&M, @home, Honda, Cape Union Mart, and Edgars.{{cite web|url= https://canalwalk.co.za/mall-map#/ |title= Canal Walk Mall Map |author= |publisher= Hyprop |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
The mall hosts the Wonderland play centre, with an arcade, a bowling alley, and pool tables.
Canal Walk also features a 2,600 square meter indoor adventure park, called Freedom Adventure Park, which offers guests access to zip lines, netball, basketball, slides, and a toddler play area.{{cite web|url= https://www.freedomadventurepark.co.za/freedom-canal-walk.html |title= Freedom Adventure Park |author= |publisher= Freedom Adventure Park (Pty)Ltd. go2africa |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
Concepts and flagships
Canal Walk has hosted the launch of numerous stores, including the first JD Sports store in South Africa, the first stand-alone Silki store in the country, and the maiden flagship store for Shift Espresso Bar.{{cite web|url= https://propertywheel.co.za/2025/03/hyprop-reports-double-digit-distributable-income-growth-and-payout-ratio-increase/ |title= Hyprop reports double-digit distributable income growth and payout ratio increase |author= PropertyWheel_G |publisher= Property Wheel |date= 13 March 2025 |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}{{cite web|url= https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/favourable-trade-metrics-boost-hyprops-interim-distributable-income-growth-by-145-2025-03-13 |title= Favourable trade metrics boost Hyprop’s interim distributable income growth by 14.5% |author= Marleny Arnoldi |publisher= Creamer Media's Engineering News |date= 13 March 2025 |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
Sustainability
Canal Walk makes use of numerous environmentally sustainable construction elements, including energy-efficient electronic ballasts, green roofing, efficient insulation, and a food waste yard for composting. The building's management has implemented a strategy to reduce water consumption, with a focus on customer and store usage. Efforts to reduce energy consumption are also undertaken.{{cite web|url= https://canalwalk.co.za/page/corporate-responsibility |title= Corporate Responsibility |author= |publisher= Hyprop |date= |access-date= 18 April 2025 }}
For making Cape Town greener and more environmentally sustainable, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) awarded Canal Walk a 5-Star Existing Building Performance v1 green rating in 2020. The mall received the award again in 2024.
Canal Walk is involved with numerous community upliftment organizations, such as Ikamva Labantu, Stop Hunger Now, and LEAP Science & Maths Schools. The mall also assists schools and charity organizations in the Western Cape with their fundraising efforts continuously, and encourages its patrons to participate as well.
Gallery
File:Canal-Walk-Glass-Ceiling.jpg|Atrium-like glass ceilings provide natural light to the double-story mall.
Image:Canal-Walk-Food-Court.jpg|A massive food court with multi-media entertainment.
External links
- [http://www.canalwalk.co.za Canal Walk website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190408061142/http://centurycity.co.za/ Century City website]
References
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{{Cape Town|economy}}
{{Shopping centres in South Africa}}