Garden Route Mall celebrates 20 years

GEORGE NEWS - The Garden Route Mall celebrated its 20th anniversary in style on Friday evening, 31 October, with a show-stopping celebration that brought together tenants, service providers and special guests.

Among those in attendance were George Mayor Jackie von Brandis, Loot Steyn of Aura Holdings, who has been part of the mall since its inception, and exco members from Attacq's head office.

A highlight of the celebration was a presentation by the general manager, Rion Olivier, who outlined the mall's strategic direction, performance milestones and ongoing commitment to community engagement.

The guests were also treated to live entertainment by Carol Thorns (That Girl in the Bubble) and Jaco Kriek on saxophone.

The night concluded with a heartfelt toast by Morné Pietersen, Eden FM's station manager.

Over the past two decades, the Garden Route Mall has grown into the region's leading shopping and lifestyle destination. Its tenant mix has expanded to 119 stores, offering a strong combination of national retailers and beloved local line shops that give the mall its distinctive community character.

The mall has strengthened its social impact through community development and CSI initiatives, partnering with more than 26 NGOs each year. It has also been recognised as the Best of George for three consecutive years, with eight of its tenants receiving awards in their respective categories. Seasonal campaigns such as the popular Ladies Club, Easter and Christmas activations continue to draw families together year after year.

Celebrating the evening: Gideon Hugo (owner of Vodacom), Loot Steyn (Aura Holdings) and Rion Olivier (Garden Route Mall GM).

Earlier this year, the mall was proud to serve as the main sponsor of the 2025 Outeniqua Cycle Challenge, contributing R300 000 towards the event.

Since opening in 2005, the mall has evolved into a dynamic lifestyle hub, constantly enhancing its tenant mix, improving customer experience and integrating technology and sustainability. The mall currently holds a 4.4 star Google rating, reflecting its strong customer satisfaction.

Looking ahead, the mall is focused on further improving accessibility and convenience. Plans are under way for a well-integrated transport hub that will serve both shoppers and commuters. The development will bring together a KFC drive-thru, a Go George bus station, a formal taxi facility and a Tyre Mart fitment centre, creating a modern gateway to the mall.

"Our total capex spend for the financial year amounts to R55m, which also includes the 1.7MW solar project. Our solar total is then almost 3MW," said Olivier.

"Celebrating 20 years is a remarkable milestone for Garden Route Mall. It's a tribute to our loyal shoppers, dedicated tenants and service providers, and the George community that has supported us since day one. We're proud of how far we've come and look forward to the next 20 years of growth, innovation and memorable experiences."

Top-class entertainment was delivered by Carol Thorns (That Girl in the Bubble).