By CHATULA KANGALI –
SOME stores at Jacaranda Mall have closed due to slow business and high rentals but the owners of the complex say they are refurbishing it and that it will now house more food outlets.
The latest stores to leave the place are Jets, Edgars and Golden Oaklet which were located at the rear part of the mall.
Jets and Edgars have put notices to customers indicating that they had closed the stores at the mall and customers should, therefore, visit the stores at town centre and Kafubu Mall on the other side of the city.
But Jacaranda centre marketing manager Mao Kasonsa said management had embarked on refurbishing and expanding the mall to allow it to accommodate more food stores and offices.
About six stores at the largest shopping mall in Ndola relocated to the central business district last year and to other shopping malls in the city as well as other towns in the province.
The mall which is at the entry point of Ndola was the first mall to be constructed on the Copperbelt.
The management has embarked on a refurbishment and expansion of the structure that will see more food outlets and offices accommodated.
A check yesterday found works in progress.
“The  mall is now five years old, from the time it was constructed, it has never had a facelift, we are currently refurbishing and re-branding it, the front part will consist of stores while the rear part of the mall will be turned into an office park,” he said.
Mr Kasonsa said the management had received expression of interest from food stores to open outlets at the mall.
He said the expression of interest was followed by the high demand of for food products in the city.