In the clearest sign that business at shopping malls in Nairobi is in soup, a prominent mall is now offering free space in a bid to attract businesses.
According to a release doing rounds on social media, the Rosslyn Riviera Mall is offering free space for a period of up to six months. Thereafter, businesses will be getting 50 per cent discounts on rent.
The Sh. 2.7 billion three-level shopping mall was launched in early 2017. Ahead of its launch, the developers were expected to add 116,000 square feet of retail space in the market targeted at shops, restaurants, and entertainment and wellness outlets.
The owners were targeting the residents of Rosslyn, Muthaiga, Runda, Nyali, Gigiri, and Rwaka.
“We believe that Rosslyn Riviera will be a successful neighbourhood mall because of its location, size, concept, convenience, accessibility and target market,” Knight Frank’s head of marketing Mwihoti M’Mbijjewe said then.
Chandarana Supermarkets was the anchor tenant at the mall near Village Market in Nairobi. Coffe Nove, German Point, News Café Cape Foods, Aristocrats Forex Bureau, Healthy U, jewellers Gemessence Ltd, Spot On Entertainment, Liquor City, Mimosa Pharmacy, Micos Ltd, Thola Glass and RAGS Ltd were some of the brands that booked space at the mall.
Construction of Rosslyn Riviera Mall began in late 2014 and was developed by Thaara Ltd which is associated with Peter Gethi, a businessman with interests in the real estate sector and a son of the late police boss Ben Gethi.
Incidentally, the mall was located close to Centum Investments Two Rivers mixed development which houses the largest mall in the region.