It was a hectic first day of opening

Windhoek's Maerua Mall came to life on Thursday morning. By 11:00 the Mall was flooded with shoppers from all works of life. Finding parking in the 2000 parking bays was nearly an impossible task, although new 700 parking bays had also been opened that morning.

The DJ crew hired by Sportscene Shop on the upper level to attract customers. From left: Dudley, Bricato, and DJ Jacques rocking Maerua Mall with rave music in broad daylight.

In their quest to attract customers retail shop managers left no stones unturned. Some employed clowns to hand out balloons, while others offered discount coupons and other freebies. Retail shops such as Sportscene, on the upper level, have gone out of their way to make a scene by hiring a DJ crew from a local nightclub. In broad daylight, Dudley, Bricato, and DJ Jacques were rocking Maerua Mall with rave music, just as they do in the night club. In between, Dudley announced the special offers: “spend N$150 or more and we could hook you up with an Apple iPod, a digital camera, and loads more. The offer lasts until 2 April...” Then the music continued. It was hectic. On the lower level at Sheet Street, Merly Shikwambane and Piipawa Nghifitikeko together with colleagues, took the merchandise out of the shop into the corridors, right into the shoppers' faces. They explained and allowed the shoppers touch the blankets, pillows and sheet from the shop.

The second phase of Maerua Mall adds a total floor space of 19300 square metres and comprises of two shopping levels and a basement parking area.

And the waitresses and waiters in the coffee shops and restaurant that just opened were already on their toes -on their first day at work. It was as though Windhoek went to bed without dinner the previous night. Maerua Mall Phase Two is spread over a total of 43000 square metres. It has 2000 parking bays, of which 1300 are free, and over 110 new retail shops, coffee and restaurants. This phase adds a total floor space of 19300 square metres.

The wing comprises two shopping levels and a basement parking area.
The shops in the new wings include Edgars, Foschini, Markhams, Miladys, Total Sports, Sport Scene, FX Fashion, Due South, @Home, Galaxy, House & Home, Sportsman Warehouse, Ackermans, Boardmans, Mr Price, Clicks/Diskom, Primi Piatti, Woerman & Brock Supermarket and Deli, Cactus Agencies, Salon Haircraft, Multi Brand, Tiger Lilly, Dynamite Fashions, D-Design House, Chip ‘n Dip, Okna, Fudge Factory, Nambil Meat Supplies, Die Blumenecke, Telecom Namibia, MTC, Pet’s Choice, Pharmacy, Femina, Nokia, Steel Furndesign, Christian Mobile Literature, Jewellers Emporium, PJ’s Music Bar, Street House, La Novita, Mum’s Essentials, Le Gear, Squirelli Kids & Teens, Cheeky Kidz, Medici Bistro and Restaurant, Steers, Sushi & Tipenyaki Bar, First National Bank and several ATM’s.