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About us.
Retail expertise with 34 years of experience in excellence.
22
Years old
308, 000
Square meters of retail.
15
Centres
22, 000m²
Average size
The Bentel Group was formed in 1989 by brothers Aubrey and Selwyn Bentel with the purpose of housing various restaurants they planned on developing. The duo, along with partner Dennis Martin, went on to open 13 restaurants, each uniquely branded, in regional shopping centres throughout South Africa. It was this early experience in the dynamics of shopping centre tenant layout and customer shopping behaviour that sparked the brothers’ interest in the property industry and shopping centre development. Their involvement in the restaurant business provided the opportunity for the brothers to slowly begin purchasing vacant land and rezoning it, with the intention of developing commercial property.
Shopping Centres became the main focus as this is where their restaurant experience provided an understanding of the dynamics of the retail environment. A small office block which houses their current head office was developed in 1998 with the first Shopping Centre opening in 2002. Today Bentel Group’s developments and redevelopments comprise a prime portfolio of shopping centres in strategic locations. The brothers remain partners with Dennis Martin at Trumps in Nelson Mandela Square which they together opened in 1994.
Latest developments.
Bentel Group acquired the three President Square centres in August 2022 and has now commenced with an exciting redevelopment of the Kurgersdorp proposition. The first phase includes configuration of current space to allow for better retail positioning and a potential second phase which includes additional GLA. This will provide the shoppers with an enhanced tenant mix adding to the already very successful trading platform.
Key highlights of the proposed redevelopment:
Phase 1
- The current stores will be reconfigured and supplemented to provide for an exciting variety of quality and value fashion stores together with various specialized destination stores and handpicked convenient service category.
- The newly developed taxi rank is now only 220m from the centre and has already opened its doors in 2023. A safe and secure walkaway is planned to link the rank to the centre to provide for a seamless shopping experience for our strong pedestrian market.
- A newly configured Taxi drop off and collection point with easy access and egress forms part of the enhanced and convenient shopper experience.
Phase 2
- New retail propositions will front the parking deck on the east wing providing convenience for both pedestrians and vehicle visitors.
- New convenient destination retail in the lower level to complement the existing tenants.
- Newly installed vertical transport at the East Wing (Dis-Chem side to ensure easy access to basement tenants and ground level tenants.
- The on-grade parking deck will be re-aligned to allow for more convenient vehicle flow to compliment both west and east sides of the centre.
Meet the team.
Selwyn Bentel
Director
Rene Blankers
Portfolio Manager
Aubrey Bentel
Director
Claudia Van Den Heever
Financial Manager
Danie De Goede
Business Executive
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