Revitalization of the City Park Building: A New Era Begins

4 mins read
hospitality mama shelter

Mama Shelter, a famous hotel chain known for its unique and vibrant aesthetics, is opening a new hotel in the City Park building in Cape Town. The hotel will feature 127 guest rooms, co-working spaces, a gym, a pool, and a rooftop restaurant with breathtaking views of the city, as well as a new concept called Mama Play, including tenpin bowling and karaoke. The joint venture between Ennismore and Kasada promises to revitalize the once deserted City Park building, marking Mama Shelter’s debut in the South African market and contributing to the rejuvenation of Cape Town’s central business district.

What is Mama Shelter Cape Town and What Can You Expect?

Mama Shelter Cape Town is a new hotel opening in the City Park building, a joint venture between Ennismore and Kasada. Mama Shelter is a unique hotel brand known for its vibrant aesthetics and will add a new level of energy to the hospitality scene in Cape Town. The hotel features 127 guest rooms, co-working spaces, a gym, a pool, and a rooftop restaurant with breathtaking views of the city. Additionally, Mama Shelter Cape Town will launch a new concept, Mama Play, including tenpin bowling and karaoke.

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The once deserted City Park building, previously housing the Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, is set to buzz with life and activity soon. This transformation is made possible by the joint venture of Ennismore, a fast-growing lifestyle and hospitality brand, and Kasada, a leading private equity platform specializing in the African hospitality sector. Together, they plan to introduce the world-famous hotel chain, Mama Shelter, to Cape Town, marking its debut in the South African market.

Mama Shelter: A Global Sensation

Mama Shelter, founded by Serge and Jérémie Trigano, was first launched in the eastern part of Paris in 2008. Over the years, it has spread its colorful and lively presence across various cities such as Marseille, Luxembourg, Rome, Lisbon, Paris La Défense, Rennes, and Dijon. The brand stands out for its unique and vibrant aesthetics, positioning itself as more than just a hotel. The brand is set to expand further, with its opening in Nice scheduled for June 2024, and other locations on the horizon include Dubai, Casablanca, Downtown LA, and of course, Cape Town.

Cape Town Project: A Promising Venture

The upcoming Cape Town project is a collaborative initiative between Ingenuity, a respected property and development company in the Western Cape, and Kasada, announced in December 2023. This venture promises a lively, mixed-use development comprising hotels, retail outlets, and eateries. The inclusion of Mama Shelter in this development is expected to redefine Cape Town’s hospitality scenario with its exuberant persona.

Olivier Granet and David Damiba, Managing Partners and Co-CEOs of Kasada, expressed their excitement about the project. They recognized the potential of the iconic City Park building and are eager to utilize their extensive hospitality redevelopment and investment experience to create a remarkable lifestyle property. Their vision includes catering to both business and leisure travelers and transforming the space into a local hotspot, contributing to the rejuvenation of this cherished segment of Cape Town’s central business district.

Vibrant Features of Mama Shelter Cape Town

The upcoming Mama Shelter Cape Town is set to be a major attraction for the City Park building. It will feature 127 guest rooms across three categories and 68 branded residences that include studios and one to four-bedroom apartments. Guests can also enjoy amenities like meeting rooms, co-working spaces, a gym, a pool, and a pool deck.

A key highlight of the property will be Mama’s classic all-day dining restaurant situated on the rooftop. Guests will get to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city’s beautiful panorama from this spot – from the grand Table Mountain and the sparkling Atlantic Seaboard to the Foreshore and the dazzling city skyline.

Mama Shelter Cape Town: A Fresh Concept

Adding to the charm of its new South African location, Mama Shelter Cape Town will also launch a new concept, Mama Play. This vast 742 sqm arcade will host a variety of entertainment options including tenpin bowling and karaoke, with spaces designated for events. Furthermore, Ennismore aims to open a standalone restaurant on Bree Street, promising to enhance the city’s culinary scene even further.

In summary, the introduction of Mama Shelter Cape Town signifies a new wave of vibrancy and energy in the city’s hospitality industry, reinforcing Cape Town’s reputation as an ever-evolving dynamic global destination.

What is the joint venture between Ennismore and Kasada?

Ennismore and Kasada are partnering to revitalize the once deserted City Park building in Cape Town, introducing the world-famous hotel chain Mama Shelter to the South African market and contributing to the rejuvenation of Cape Town’s central business district.

What is Mama Shelter and what can you expect from Mama Shelter Cape Town?

Mama Shelter is a unique hotel brand known for its vibrant aesthetics and will add a new level of energy to the hospitality scene in Cape Town. Mama Shelter Cape Town features 127 guest rooms, co-working spaces, a gym, a pool, and a rooftop restaurant with breathtaking views of the city. Additionally, Mama Shelter Cape Town will launch a new concept, Mama Play, including tenpin bowling and karaoke.

What is Ingenuity, and what is its involvement in the upcoming Cape Town project?

Ingenuity is a respected property and development company in the Western Cape. It is collaborating with Kasada to announce a lively, mixed-use development comprising hotels, retail outlets, and eateries, including Mama Shelter Cape Town.

What can we expect from Mama Shelter Cape Town’s features?

Mama Shelter Cape Town is set to feature 127 guest rooms across three categories and 68 branded residences that include studios and one to four-bedroom apartments. Guests can also enjoy amenities like meeting rooms, co-working spaces, a gym, a pool, and a pool deck. A key highlight of the property will be Mama’s classic all-day dining restaurant situated on the rooftop, offering a breathtaking view of the city’s beautiful panorama.

What is Mama Play, and what can we expect from it?

Mama Play is a new concept that Mama Shelter Cape Town is launching, featuring a vast 742 sqm arcade hosting a variety of entertainment options including tenpin bowling and karaoke, with spaces designated for events.

What is the significance of Mama Shelter Cape Town’s introduction to the South African market?

The introduction of Mama Shelter Cape Town signifies a new wave of vibrancy and energy in the city’s hospitality industry, reinforcing Cape Town’s reputation as an ever-evolving dynamic global destination.

Lerato Mokena is a Cape Town-based journalist who covers the city’s vibrant arts and culture scene with a focus on emerging voices from Khayelitsha to the Bo-Kaap. Born and raised at the foot of Table Mountain, she brings an insider’s eye to how creativity shapes—and is shaped by—South Africa’s complex social landscape. When she’s not chasing stories, Lerato can be found surfing Muizenberg’s gentle waves or debating politics over rooibos in her grandmother’s Gugulethu kitchen.

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