Cavendish Square (shopping centre)

Cavendish Square
An aerial view of Cavendish Square from Table Mountain
Interactive map of Cavendish Square
Alternative names	Cavendish
General information
Type	Shopping mall
Location	1 Dreyer St, Claremont, Cape Town, 7708
Coordinates	33°58′49″S18°27′48″E / 33.98028°S 18.46333°E / -33.98028; 18.46333
Opening	September 7, 1972;53 years ago (1972-09-07)[ citation needed ]
Owner	Old Mutual [1]
Other information
Number of stores	190 [2]
Website
cavendish.co.za

Cavendish Square, sometimes referred to as Cavendish, is a multi-story shopping mall located in the mixed-use suburb of Claremont, in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town. Built in 1972, the center comprises 190 stores, and multiple floors of indoor parking. ^[2]

As of December 2025, the mall receives an average of 1.2 million shoppers per month. ^[3]

Major South African financial institution Old Mutual is the current owner of Cavendish Square, through its subsidiary, Old Mutual Property. ^[4]

History

The center was, at the time of being built, the largest upscale shopping center to open in Cape Town, and was a project of the now-shuttered Stuttafords department store chain.^{[ citation needed ]}

Original Cavendish Square tenants included a full-line Stuttaford's store, a Greatermans department store, whose space was later taken by Garlicks. The centre opened September 7, 1972. ^{[5] [6] [7]} It is a popular retail destination in the area, offering a wide range of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment options.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2023, the mall built a new pedestrianized trading area in Dreyer Street, situated between Cavendish Square and the Cavendish Connect building on the opposite side. The street, which was previously used by cars, had turned into an informal trading area over the years. ^[1]

The new, formalized, modern pedestrian shopping area was part of broader mall renovations, and added roofing, built-in stores, utility links, and official signage, being called Dreyer Street Market. ^[1]

Operations

Current anchor tenants include Woolworths, Cotton On, H&M, Mr Price, Clicks, Pick n Pay, and Sportsmans Warehouse.

Cavendish Square also hosts the Made in the Cape Artisans Market. ^[8]

Gallery

Cavendish Square shopping center

• 
  Third floor parking
• 
  The mall's atrium, with plants outside and elevators and parking pay area to the right
• 
  Dreyer Street Market, between Cavendish Square and Cavendish Connect

References

1. "Cavendish Square Creates a New Outdoor Boulevard". Property Wheel. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
2. "Cavendish Square - Homepage". Cavendish Square. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
3. "Cavendish Square - About Us". Cavendish Square. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
4. "Old Mutual Property turns to small businesses to take up mall space". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
5. Marwood, John. The History of Stuttafords Department Stores. pp. ebool actions 2715, 3477.
6. Marwood, ebook location 2715
7. Stuttafords News (internal newspaper), Christmas 1972, p.1
8. "Christmas markets in Cape Town".