Heidelberg Mall is still growing its shopper numbers and its sales figures, a year after it first opened its doors in October 2014.

The 35,000sqm regional shopping centre opened to an enthusiastic welcome from shoppers, which saw it become an instant favourite with consumers last festive season, and its popularity and trade has notched up steady increases during 2015.

Now, there’s even more to delight shoppers at Heidelberg Mall. The one-stop family entertainment centre Hard Hats Entertainment will open at the mall before the end of October. Mr Price Sport is opening on 1 December, bringing its affordable sportswear and equipment to Heidelberg Mall. Also open at the centre just in time for the holidays, the legendary steak house Blacksteer fired up its grills at the end of September.

Heidelberg Mall General Manager, Michelle Amorim, comments: “Heidelberg Mall is exceptionally fortunate that our growing shopper base is loyal and visits Heidelberg Mall regularly. Many of our shoppers have asked us for more entertainment at the mall, and we are delighted to do this by adding Hard Hats Entertainment and Black Steer to our retail mix. We are also confident that Mr Price Sport will be a complete hit with our customers.”

She adds: “We’ve got to know our shoppers so much better over the past year, and will continue to enhance our retail mix to best meet our patrons’ likes and needs.”

Amorim reports the mall’s top trading categories are fashion, jewellery, food and, of course, Heidelberg Mall’s anchor stores – Checkers, Edgars, Game, and Woolworths – are proving extremely popular with local consumers.

Celebrating its one-year anniversary, Heidelberg Mall is sharing a full programme of birthday fun with all of its shoppers. From Friday, 23 October, to Sunday, 1 November, the mall will be filled with interactive entertainment, for children and adults alike. From fun kids activities and toy pony rides to school choir and dance performances, live entertainment and much more. Shoppers could even win a prize simply by being spotted shopping at the mall.

In only a year, Heidelberg Mall has become more than the most popular place to meet, shop and be entertained, it has also become an integral part of the Heidelberg community and the region.

“Our aim is to be an asset to Heidelberg and its people. We believe the mall is achieving this by actively participating in community initiatives that have a positive impact on many Heidelberg residents,” says Amorim.

And, looking back on the past year, it is clear that Heidelberg makes a big difference, by bringing great shopping and entertainment to its market and through community support.

Among these are Heidelberg Mall’s community initiative “Walk in Someone Else’s Shoes”, launched earlier this year. It handed over the first batch of 224 pairs of donated shoes to a local non-profit community organisation, Indawo Yosizo, in July. Since then a further 300 pairs of shoes have been collected and an additional hand-over is set to take place soon.

“We are delighted to be celebrating our first successful year of trade, and are proud to be a positive part of our wonderful community,” says Amorim. “It is amazing that so many people have chosen to support Heidelberg Mall, they are at the heart of our success.”

Heidelberg Mall, which boasts an excellent line-up of more than 100 top brands and retailers, is ideally situated directly off the N3 highway between the suburb of Bersig and the existing Heidelberg CBD, on the corner of Retief Road and Jacobs Road.