Growth in Grahamstown is continuing, with the city's only upmarket mall announcing last week that it is spending R7-million on extensions.

Pepper Grove Mall owner Rob Beer says 1 500m2 is being added to accommodate a large extension to anchor tenant Pick 'n Pay.

In October, he added 700m2 taken up by finance businesses. Beer also announced that he was "swinging the parking" to face the chain store, which would increase bays by 40 from 310 to 350. The mall will also be getting a first floor, mainly for storage.

"We are hoping to have the extensions completed by the end of July," Beer said. He is also keen to add an arty element to the mall, and is bringing in a Cape Town landscaping architect to introduce more plants and trees.

He called for suggestions on how public art and decor could be used to add an appropriate design sense to the mall.

Beer said he had also spent about R80 000 on upgrading the neighbouring Seventh Day Adventist Church in exchange for using the property to get his building materials in and out.

His teams had repainted the church roof and its entire exterior, replastered damp areas and built a new front wall and ramp entrance.

Eastern Province Herald