THE R80m first phase of a shopping centre in Alexandra, called Alex Plaza will be open its doors tomorrow, the first of two shopping centres planned for Alexandra that aim to firmly establish a retail shopping node in the Johannesburg township.

The first phase of the 10000m² Alex Plaza centre, which was developed by empowerment firm Roux Property Development Africa in partnership with New Africa Developments, includes Shoprite, which has taken 3200m² of space.

Other national tenants are Standard bank, KFC, Jet, Pep Stores, Ackermans, Dunns and CB Stores.

Early last month New Heights Developers announced that a R120m shopping centre called the Alexandra Junction Shopping Centre was being planned for one of Alex’s busiest hubs.

New Heights Developers, the lead company in the consortium behind the development, says the Alexandra Junction Shopping Centre will be completed in April 2007.

Corne Claassen, leasing manager for New Africa Developments, says there are enough people living in Alexandra to support both Alex Plaza and Alexandra Junction.

He says the Alexandra Junction will actually assist Alex Plaza because it will keep more people shopping in the township.

At present Alexandra residents tend to shop at nearby Balfour Park shopping centre and in the Johannesburg central business district.

Claassen says Roux Property Development Africa and New Africa Developments have an advantage over Alexandra Junction by virtue of being the first to open its doors.

The developers plan to develop a second phase of 10000m² at Alex Plaza next year which will have Spar as anchor tenant.

First National Bank has also indicated it be occupying space.

Claassen says there are 300000 people living in a 1km radius of Alex Plaza who will support the centre.