ABOUT US
OUR STORY
The Cornerstone Lifestyle Centre was officially opened on 6 November 2020.
For many years, this old building was known as ‘Die Glaswinkel’ and then ‘Palmietwinkel. It has had business rights since 1936 and the building served as a trading store right up until it was restored into the vibrant place it has now become.
The old building used to be a stop-over and replenishing station for those who came down the Montague Pass in their wagons and vehicles, as well as those preparing for the arduous journey over the Outeniqua Mountains into the hinterland. The site was first occupied by the Swedish Explorer Dirk Uwes in 1756. In 1905 the site was sold to the Searle family who established the buildings and who also influenced many other developments in the Southern Cape.
It is a landmark site in the Garden Route and is significantly situated with huge Gum trees that were planted by pioneers of the past, associating the old buildings with a place of rest and restoration.
Today, the Cornerstone Lifestyle Centre has retained its historic rural core which is maintained in the main building complex and industrial look. The name Cornerstone comes from the Scriptures in Acts 4:11. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone and in a way this has been indicative of the old building which for many years stood alone and rejected and now has become a thriving cornerstone.
The popular centre is becoming a meeting place for many, and still carries with it the gentle whispers of the past.
THE MILLERS AND BESWICKS
The Miller and Beswick families had their eye on this full-of-potential site for many years. Back then, they weren’t sure what they were going to do with the site, but as the years went by – and they drove past the property on a regular basis – their vision became clear.
This vision became a reality when Mark and Janelle Miller purchased the property in 2019; and with Ant and Megan Beswick’s partnership, set about establishing The Cornerstone Lifestyle Centre.
They have put together an eclectic group of tenants, offering everything from dining and retail to beauty.
The industrial, modern and trendy look of the centre is something different for George; bringing a fresh appeal with its beautiful colourful doors and splashes of bright yellow here and there.
It hasn’t been easy with the challenges of Covid-19 and lockdown, but at the end of the day, it is so rewarding to see the local community coming together and supporting a local venture where all the tenants are experiencing success.