Somerset Mall’s new food and entertainment wing has been delayed by a day, with several restaurants now expected to open on 28 August 2026 while Freedom Adventure Park remains coming soon.
There was supposed to be a fair bit happening at Somerset Mall today.
The mall’s new food and entertainment wing was scheduled to open on 27 August 2026, bringing together a number of new and relocated restaurants, along with Freedom Adventure Park.
But when I arrived at the mall this morning, it was clear that the opening had not gone quite according to plan.
Several of the restaurants were still closed, and the new wing was not yet operating as the big new addition to the mall that had been advertised.
I made contact with some of the businesses involved to find out what was happening and spoke to Andre Du Plessis from Rib Republic, one of the restaurants due to open today.
He confirmed that Rib Republic itself was ready to open, but that a request had come through from the mall to defer the opening until Friday, 28 August 2026, as some of the other restaurants were experiencing delays.
A little more time for the new wing
Among those affected are the Famous Brands outlets moving into the new development.
Steers, Fishaways and Debonairs Pizza are all part of the new food offering, with Steers and Fishaways relocating from their existing positions at Entrance 1 of Somerset Mall. Steers is moving from Shops 94 and 95.
It means that what was meant to be the opening day for the new wing has effectively been pushed back by a day while the various outlets get themselves ready.
When complete, the development will bring together quite a mix of food and entertainment.
The signage at the site currently lists Steers, Rib Republic, Debonairs Pizza, Fishaways, Best of Asia, Freedom Adventure Park, Now Now and Bunka Ramen.
Freedom Adventure Park is also delayed
Freedom Adventure Park was also scheduled to open today, but that has not happened either.
I contacted the team and Jonathan Goosen confirmed that delays involving a container carrying the final fitments have pushed its opening back.
There is no new opening date confirmed yet for Freedom Adventure Park.
For now, it remains coming soon.
Not everything is opening at once
There are also different timelines for some of the other businesses coming into the development.
Woolworths NowNow is already expected to open early next month, while there are still no clear updates on Best of Asia or Bunka Ramen, which remain listed as coming soon.
So while Friday should see a substantial part of the new offering finally open, the full picture will continue to develop over the coming weeks.
So, one more day
What was meant to be the big opening of the new wing on 27 August has therefore become a slightly staggered affair.
Rib Republic, Steers, Fishaways and the other outlets caught up in the delay should now be ready for Friday, while Freedom Adventure Park will follow once its final fitments arrive. Other names, including Best of Asia and Bunka Ramen, are still listed as coming soon.
So the picture is a little different from what shoppers were expecting this morning.
But by tomorrow, we should have a much better idea of what the new food and entertainment wing at Somerset Mall actually looks like when it is up and running.
We will be there to see it.
