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Waterfront Silvertown, located in Cape Town, is part of the iconic V&A Waterfront precinct, a 123-hectare mixed-use destination renowned as one of Africas most visited cultural and historical hubs. Situated along the working harbor with views of Table Mountain, it spans retail, dining, entertainment, and residential spaces. The property hosts over 380 retail outlets, featuring a prestigious tenant mix that includes international luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, alongside local artisans and specialty stores in areas such as the Watershed design market.
Market position is premium, attracting 24 million visitors annually, driven by tourism, affluent locals, and business travelers. Footfall is robust year-round, supported by extended trading hours from 9am to 9pm daily and events like the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Occupancy stands at 99.7%, with minimal vacancies at 0.3%, indicating strong demand.
Rent levels are high, typically R400 to R600 per square meter per month, reflecting the prime location but posing challenges for smaller retailers.
Accessibility is excellent via MyCiTi bus, taxi ranks, and proximity to Cape Town International Airport (20 minutes away), though peak-hour traffic on the N1 can be congested.
Tenant mix emphasizes fashion, jewelry, homeware, and food and beverage, with 60 restaurants and cafes.
Operational quality is high, with robust security, clean facilities, and marketing support from the management.
Leasing advantages include high visibility to diverse demographics, collaborative promotional activities, and flexible spaces from pop-ups to anchor stores. However, seasonal tourism dips in winter and high operational costs due to premium positioning are notable factors. The precincts expansion plans, including luxury retail tripling to 4,000 square meters, signal growth potential amid Cape Towns competitive retail landscape.
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Hours of Operation
Hours
| Monday | 09:00 AM — 09:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 09:00 AM — 09:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 09:00 AM — 09:00 PM |
| Thursday | 09:00 AM — 09:00 PM |
| Friday | 09:00 AM — 09:00 PM |
| Saturday | 09:00 AM — 09:00 PM |
| Sunday | 09:00 AM — 09:00 PM |
Hours may vary on public holidays. Check with individual stores for specific holiday schedules.
Insights
Demographics and Footfall
Waterfront Silvertown draws a diverse demographic profile, including international tourists (over 50% of visitors), affluent local residents from nearby suburbs like Green Point and Sea Point, and middle-to-upper-income families. Age groups span 25-55 years, with strong appeal to millennials and Gen Z for lifestyle and experiential shopping. Annual footfall exceeds 24 million, translating to approximately 65,000 daily visitors, bolstered by harbor cruises, museums, and events. This high traffic supports retail sales density above national averages, but reliance on tourism exposes it to global travel fluctuations and economic downturns in source markets like Europe and the US. Accessibility via public transport and parking (over 5,000 bays) aids convenience, though pedestrian congestion during peak seasons can impact shopper experience.
Occupancy and Rent Levels
Occupancy at Waterfront Silvertown is exceptionally high at 99.7%, with only 0.3% vacancy, reflecting robust tenant demand and low turnover in this premier destination. This stability benefits lessees through consistent neighbor synergy and reduced risk of dead spaces. Rent levels range from R400 to R600 per square meter monthly for prime retail, higher for luxury zones, inclusive of basic services but exclusive of escalations tied to CPI (around 5-6% annually). While these rates command premium positioning and marketing support, they strain margins for non-luxury categories, especially amid rising property expenses (up 44% recently). Lease terms typically span 5-10 years with turnover rent options (5-10% of sales), offering flexibility but requiring strong performance to offset base costs.
Competition and Risks
Waterfront Silvertown faces competition from nearby malls like Canal Walk (Cape Towns largest, 85% occupancy) and lifestyle centers such as Cavendish Square, which offer similar tenant mixes but lower rents (R200-400/sqm). Online retail and e-commerce growth, coupled with market saturation in fashion categories, pressure physical stores. Risks include seasonal footfall dips (20-30% lower in winter), economic volatility in South Africa (inflation at 4-6%, rand fluctuations), and infrastructure challenges like aging harbor facilities potentially leading to disruptions. High tourist dependency amplifies vulnerability to events like pandemics or load-shedding power outages, though management mitigates with backup generators. Overall, while the unique waterfront ambiance provides a competitive edge, retailers must differentiate through experiential offerings to sustain performance.
Building Details
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City Snapshot
Cape Town
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Cape Town
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