Northmead Square

Northmead Square is a community-oriented shopping centre in Northmead, Benoni, in the Ekurhuleni municipality of Gauteng, South Africa. It opened in 1998 on property that had been owned by the Coutsides family since 1961. The site had formerly contained a house known as the Pink House and formed part of the historic property referred to as Beckett's Farm. Development of the centre in the 1990s encountered opposition from surrounding residents and businesses, delaying construction, but the project ultimately proceeded and the centre was opened by ANC politician Sicelo Shiceka. The centre is primarily positioned as a convenient local destination serving people living within roughly a five-kilometre radius. Its role extends beyond ordinary shopping because it combines retail and service functions with regional branches of three major South African banks: First National Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank. Those financial services attract visitors from farther afield and help give the centre a broader catchment than its neighbourhood positioning might otherwise suggest. Northmead Square is particularly associated with the return of cinema facilities to Benoni. The town's last remaining cinema had closed during the 1980s, and the centre became known as the first shopping centre to reintroduce cinemas to the town. This entertainment component, combined with food, retail, and banking services, has helped establish the centre as a local meeting place rather than simply a collection of shops. Residents affectionately refer to it as “The Square.” The centre has also developed a visible community and charitable role. It hosts an annual Shavathon in support of CANSA, South Africa's national cancer organisation. In March 2012, the event raised approximately R43,000 and was reported as the strongest Shavathon result in Eastern Gauteng at that time, exceeding the amounts raised at larger regional shopping destinations such as East Rand Mall. Northmead Square has additionally hosted quarterly blood drives organised by the Benoni Lions Rotarian Club and the South African National Blood Service. Cultural and civic activities have been part of the centre's public identity. A performance by the artist Kassio took place at Northmead Square in 2012. On 1 July 2012, the centre held a 14th-anniversary celebration featuring the 46-voice Cenestra Male Choir. The choir had been selected to perform at the Choir of the World event in Wales as part of the pre-Olympic period surrounding the London 2012 Games, and more than R55,000 was collected at the celebration to support its overseas trip. The centre also received a notable visitor in February 2011 when Charlene, then Princess of Monaco, visited for lunch; she had grown up in Benoni and retained family connections in the area. Northmead Square has accommodated local media as well as retail and services. The Benoni City Times opened premises at the centre in 2004 and marked its centenary in 2011. Overall, the centre's identity is rooted in family ownership, neighbourhood convenience, banking access, cinema entertainment, and sustained participation in Benoni's charitable and cultural life. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate parent, a stock-market listing, a formal international expansion strategy, or a distinct consumer-product brand architecture.

The Northmead Square site has been associated with the Coutsides family since 1961. Before the shopping centre was built, the property contained a house known as the Pink House and was part of the land historically called Beckett's Farm. During planning for a shopping centre in the 1990s, the proposal faced objections from surrounding neighbours and businesses. These objections delayed the development, although construction eventually went ahead. Northmead Square opened in 1998. Its arrival had particular significance for Benoni's entertainment infrastructure because the town's last remaining cinema had closed in the 1980s. The centre was recognised as the first shopping centre to bring cinemas back to Benoni. It was developed and maintained as a family-run centre by the Coutsides family and became known locally as “The Square.” The centre's operating role has generally been local and community-based. It serves residents within an approximate five-kilometre radius, while banking branches operated by First National Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank draw customers from a wider area. This combination of convenience retail, financial services, and entertainment has made Northmead Square both a neighbourhood centre and a destination for selected services. Its history also includes an expanding community programme. Northmead Square hosts an annual Shavathon in partnership with CANSA. The March 2012 event raised approximately R43,000, reportedly making it the most successful participating centre in Eastern Gauteng at the time. The Benoni Lions Rotarian Club and the South African National Blood Service have used the centre for quarterly blood drives, generally attracting strong attendance. Cultural events have further connected the centre with local life. Performer Kassio used the venue for an appearance in 2012. On 1 July 2012, a 14th-anniversary event featured the 46-member Cenestra Male Choir. The event generated more than R55,000 for the choir's planned trip to perform at the Choir of the World in Wales during the period surrounding the London 2012 Olympics. In February 2011, Charlene, Princess of Monaco, visited the centre for lunch, reflecting her longstanding connection to Benoni. Northmead Square has also hosted local media operations. The Benoni City Times opened offices at the centre in 2004 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011. Public reference material does not provide a detailed tenant directory, financial statements, formal executive roster, or evidence of ownership beyond the family's continuing role. The centre is therefore best understood as a locally established, privately maintained shopping and community venue rather than a publicly listed national retail chain.

• 2012

  Fourteenth-anniversary community celebration

  [1]Northmead Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Northmead Square marks its 14th anniversary with a Cenestra Male Choir performance and a fundraiser exceeding R55,000.

• 2011

  Princess of Monaco visits

  [1]Northmead Squareen.wikipedia.org

  Charlene, Princess of Monaco, visits Northmead Square for lunch during a visit connected with her Benoni roots.

• 2004

  Benoni City Times opens premises at the centre

  [1]Northmead Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The local newspaper establishes premises at Northmead Square.

• 1998

  Northmead Square opens

  [1]Northmead Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The community shopping centre opens in Benoni after planning delays and restores cinema access to the town.

• 1961

  Coutsides family acquires the property

  [1]Northmead Squareen.wikipedia.org

  The property on which Northmead Square was later built comes under ownership of the Coutsides family.

A family-run, community-focused shopping centre serving Benoni and nearby Ekurhuleni residents, with a mix of everyday retail, banking, cinema entertainment, and local civic activity.

• Retail property · 1998

  Community shopping centre

  Northmead Square provides neighbourhood shopping and everyday services for residents of Northmead and surrounding Benoni communities. Its operating model combines convenience retail with food, entertainment, banking, and local service uses. The centre is designed primarily around a local catchment of approximately five kilometres, while selected tenants attract customers from farther across the region.

• Entertainment · 1998

  Cinema facilities

  The centre's cinema offering is a defining part of its local significance. Northmead Square became known as the first shopping centre to bring cinemas back to Benoni after the town's last remaining cinema had closed in the 1980s. Public reference material does not identify the cinema operator or provide a detailed screen and programming profile.

• Financial services

  Banking branches

  Regional branches of First National Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank operate at or are associated with Northmead Square. These financial-service tenants broaden the centre's catchment beyond its immediate neighbourhood and are an important reason customers travel to the centre from elsewhere in the area.

• 2012CANSA Shavathon

  Benoni · Eastern Gauteng · South Africa

  Northmead Square hosted its annual Shavathon in support of CANSA. The March 2012 event raised approximately R43,000 and was reported as the most successful participating event in Eastern Gauteng at the time.

  Outcome. The fundraiser produced a strong regional result and reinforced the centre's role as a community and charitable venue.

  Source
• 2012Cenestra Male Choir fundraising event

  Benoni

  The centre's 14th-anniversary celebration featured the 46-voice Cenestra Male Choir, which had been selected for the Choir of the World in Wales.

  Outcome. More than R55,000 was collected to help finance the choir's overseas trip.

  Source
• Quarterly blood drives

  Benoni

  The Benoni Lions Rotarian Club and the South African National Blood Service use Northmead Square as a venue for recurring blood-donation drives.

  Outcome. The drives are generally well attended, according to the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Northmead Squareen.wikipedia.org