Brightwater Commons
Encyclopedia
Brightwater Commons located in Ferndale, Randburg in the Gauteng
province of South Africa, is one of Johannesburg
's better-known entertainment, restaurant and shopping centres. Previously known as the Randburg Waterfront, it used to sport a large artificial lake around which all the shopfronts were built (mimicking the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town
.)
.
Shop fronts were constructed to have nautical theme, and the artificial lake had a motorised fountain system built-in, which would give evening synchronised light and water displays to the score of classical and contemporary music.
The Waterfront was plagued by several delays in building, and the intended completion date of the complex was pushed back several times; when the official opening day came around, several visitors complained that many stores were uncompleted or not fully furbished.
The Waterfront suffered a decline in visitors after 2000, and as a result some of the many restaurants and small shops were forced to close. Addressing this slump in business, the Waterfront owners, Gray Property Trust, identified several issues leading to the economic downward spiral of the centre. These issues included a too-high restaurant density, insufficient retail space, clubs that encouraged drug abuse (most notably the since-closed infamous Morgan's Cat Nightclub), and - ironically - the large body of water itself, which effectively separated the restaurants from each other and had, by 2000, begun to smell rancid.
s - drawing large crowds for the shows at 7pm and 8pm daily, as well as a meandering artificial river on the southern side. The area previously occupied by water was made into a grass park, which was then carved up by numerous walkways, and the centre of which a formal flea market was constructed.
The nautical theme of the Waterfront was replaced in favour of a Bohemian
-cum-English
commons feel, the idea of which lent itself to the complex's new name; The Brightwater Commons.
Today, the centre is active and busy, with various events such as live bands and concerts ensuring a respectable number of visitors.
store and a revamp of the eastern side. This is expected to further solidify the Brightwater Commons as a major retail hub in the area, and attract even more customers to the once again thriving location.
is a large Pick-n-Pay
supermarket, but the new Woolworths
will balance the centre equally across the complexes opposite poles.
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
province of South Africa, is one of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
's better-known entertainment, restaurant and shopping centres. Previously known as the Randburg Waterfront, it used to sport a large artificial lake around which all the shopfronts were built (mimicking the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.)
History
The Randburg Waterfront was originally built in 1994, and consisted of a large oval of shops and restaurants surrounding a lake in a natural depression in President Ridge in Randburg, fed by the Jukskei RiverJukskei River
The Jukskei River is one of the largest rivers in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is mostly shallow and not deep enough for transportation. It is also often very polluted, and occasionally has outbreaks of cholera....
.
Shop fronts were constructed to have nautical theme, and the artificial lake had a motorised fountain system built-in, which would give evening synchronised light and water displays to the score of classical and contemporary music.
The Waterfront was plagued by several delays in building, and the intended completion date of the complex was pushed back several times; when the official opening day came around, several visitors complained that many stores were uncompleted or not fully furbished.
The Waterfront suffered a decline in visitors after 2000, and as a result some of the many restaurants and small shops were forced to close. Addressing this slump in business, the Waterfront owners, Gray Property Trust, identified several issues leading to the economic downward spiral of the centre. These issues included a too-high restaurant density, insufficient retail space, clubs that encouraged drug abuse (most notably the since-closed infamous Morgan's Cat Nightclub), and - ironically - the large body of water itself, which effectively separated the restaurants from each other and had, by 2000, begun to smell rancid.
From Waterfront to Brightwater
Gray Property Trust invested R80-million (approx. $12.5 mil, €10.4 mil, £7 mil) in refurbishing the ailing complex. An active decision to make the Waterfront a more 'active retail experience' prompted the redevelopment to greatly reduce the size of the artificial lake to a large central pond, which still features the musical fountainMusical fountain
A musical fountain is a type of animated fountain for entertainment purposes that creates an aesthetic design . This is achieved by employing the effects of timed sound waves and timed light against water particles...
s - drawing large crowds for the shows at 7pm and 8pm daily, as well as a meandering artificial river on the southern side. The area previously occupied by water was made into a grass park, which was then carved up by numerous walkways, and the centre of which a formal flea market was constructed.
The nautical theme of the Waterfront was replaced in favour of a Bohemian
Bohemian
A Bohemian is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region of Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic. The word "Bohemian" was used to denote the Czech people as well as the Czech language before the word...
-cum-English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
commons feel, the idea of which lent itself to the complex's new name; The Brightwater Commons.
Today, the centre is active and busy, with various events such as live bands and concerts ensuring a respectable number of visitors.
Further Development
There are currently further massive improvements in progress to the shopping complex, with the addition of a major WoolworthsWoolworths (South Africa)
Woolworths Holdings Limited is a South African chain of retail stores and one of the largest in the country, modeled on Marks & Spencer of the United Kingdom . This relationship with Britain's Marks and Spencer was formed after the Second World War, which led to the retailer buying all of the...
store and a revamp of the eastern side. This is expected to further solidify the Brightwater Commons as a major retail hub in the area, and attract even more customers to the once again thriving location.
Retailers, Restaurants Entertainment
The Brightwater Commons, most well-known for its wide selection of restaurants which offer a variety of cuisines, also hosts a large cinema complex, a mini-golf course, a laser-paintball arena as well as a broad selection of specialty stores. Currently the centre's anchor storeAnchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
is a large Pick-n-Pay
Pick 'n Pay
Pick 'n Pay is a second largest supermarket chain store in South Africa, established in 1967. It can also be found in other regions of southern Africa, such as Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The founder of the chain is Jack Goldin. Raymond Ackerman purchased three Pick 'n Pay...
supermarket, but the new Woolworths
Woolworths (South Africa)
Woolworths Holdings Limited is a South African chain of retail stores and one of the largest in the country, modeled on Marks & Spencer of the United Kingdom . This relationship with Britain's Marks and Spencer was formed after the Second World War, which led to the retailer buying all of the...
will balance the centre equally across the complexes opposite poles.