Eastleigh Mall Set to Dethrone Two Rivers as Kenya’s Largest Mall

Eastleigh in Nairobi attracts two types of shoppers. One type is concerned with affordability and quality, while the other is less concerned with buying knockoffs.

The first group dislikes the chaos of Eastleigh but goes there anyway because few to no shopping malls can compete with its pricing, and some high-priced wares sold in the city center are sold at a fraction of the cost in the populous shopping district.

The second type of customer is a repeat customer. These are primarily traders who buy in bulk at wholesale prices in order to resell.

Eastleigh has developed into a bustling, unregulated trading center over time.

In a single day, millions of shillings are exchanged at the numerous crammed stalls, and the streets are clogged with people navigating the mayhem of Boda Bodas, cars, and other goods.

You would think that investors would wish for order, but the turmoil actually generates extraordinary profits and gives them access to high foot traffic, which is envied by many of Nairobi’s floundering malls.

For withdrawals from mobile money, cash is king here. If you have to pay with mobile money, you’ll probably be required to get cash from the local agency.

Business Bay Square, one of East Africa’s largest malls, is located at the tips of this chaotic market. It’s scheduled to debut in early May 2023.

At 130,000 square meters, the Business Bay Square Mall (BBS) in Eastleigh is one of the biggest malls in East Africa.

With a floor area of 65,000 square meters, Two Rivers Mall surpassed Garden City Mall (50,000 square meters) on Thika Road to claim the title of largest mall in the area.

In spite of the chaos, BBS Mall appears to be in good condition. Both the roadways and the walking paths close by are extremely narrow.

Even if the driver is only three streets away, calling an Uber takes roughly 45 minutes. The quality and cost of goods vary between the streets, which are all lined with “labels.”

Adidas, Yves Saint Laurent, and Luis Vuitton exist, but they are all knockoffs. There are perfumes and oils, as well as vendors who customize the oils on-site based on the customer’s complexion.

Nonetheless, the Business Bay Square Mall, which has given Eastleigh a regal and refined atmosphere, promises to feature several stores that sell authentic.

The mall will also feature foreign brands like Giordano, a Hong Kong-based retailer of clothing and accessories, and Linton’s Beauty World, which carries skincare, makeup, and fragrance brands like Fenty Beauty by Rihanna, Clinique, Estée Lauder, and Turkish brand LC Waikiki.

Some of the fast-food outlets to be housed at the mall include American multinationals Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Pizza hut, South African fast food chain Galito’s, and Artcaffe.

A food court will also be located on the mall’s rooftop.

It offers a wide variety of food and beverage establishments, retail shops, spas, and financial services.

The 6.4-acre project includes serviced business, residential, and mixed-use plots, as well as utility and recreation plots, landscaped areas, and infrastructure lines.

“Ten Commodities Wholesale, registered in 2018, is a business group headquartered in Nairobi, to consolidate extensive experience and resources required to build a massive architectural icon, Business Bay Square, currently under development in Nairobi,” the developer’s website read.

The BBS project was undertaken in two phases. The first phase is 90 percent complete with the second phase of the project, comprising the Hotel and Serviced Apartment Towers will begin once the first phase is wrapped up.

“Maestro Limited is on-site as the project architect and the structural engineer is Stroutel Africa. MaceYMR is the appointed project manager,” said the BBS Mall marketing team.

What draws investors to Eastleigh is the high footfall of visitors flocking to shop in its malls.

“The increase in malls in Eastleigh can likely be attributed to the growing population in the area, as well as the area’s convenient location for accessing larger markets in Nairobi,” says Marshal Mutei, the sales manager at Lordship Africa, a real estate development and investment company.

Mr Mutei reckons the area’s affordability also makes it prime for investors and a better option for business owners.

“Shopping centres in Eastleigh have become a popular destination for traders and shoppers who are looking to buy goods that are not available in other parts of Nairobi. For instance, if you tell anyone in Nairobi you’re going to Eastleigh the first thing that rings in their mind is that you are shopping for something and you probably have a tight budget,” added Mr Mutei.