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Food Studio Chairman Lim Tai Toon gestures at the proposed Colombo City Centre with Ceylon Entertainments Ltd. Managing Director Imithiaz J. Cader (left) and Abans Group Director Rusi Pestonjee at the food court signing ceremony - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara
Colombo City Centre (CCC), the $ 170 million ultramodern mixed-development venture by the Abans Group and Silver Needle Hospitality of Singapore is tipped to be the country’s first premium retail lifestyle mall to be opened by Christmas, with a Next branded hotel and luxury apartments to be opened by October 2018, a top official said.
“The country’s first international shopping destination will be opened this Christmas and we will start to hand over apartments by October and open the 200-room Next Hotel by October 2018,” Abans Group Director Rusi Pestonjee told journalists in Colombo last Friday.
The venture last week took on board Food Studio, a one-of-a-kind international food court concept scheduled to open in December, with the agreement signed by Abans Group Director Rusi Pestonjee and Food Studio Chairman Lim Tai Toon.
“At present we have leased out 30% of the total shopping mall floor area, while we are in discussions for another 40%-50% to be given to some of the world’s top brands to open up their outlets. We are hoping to hand over the retail space to the respective firms by July,” he added.
He pointed out that when it came to the lifestyle shopping mall at CCC, spanning 230,000 square feet and located on five floors, they were very particular about the design guidelines of the retail space and hence the reason for them handing it over in advance for the companies to have in place attractive outlets by December.
Pestonjee said the shopping mall was conceived to create the first international standard mall and a unique retail experience for Sri Lankans. In addition, the mall has planned 250 days of marketing events throughout the year.
According to him, international brands such as Apple, Hugo Boss, The Face Shop, MAC Cosmetics, Forest Essentials, Charles & Keith, Mango and Armani have confirmed space, while they are also in discussions with many other brands that are keen to enter the Sri Lankan retail market space.
Despite certain disrupting factors last year, Pestonjee confirmed that over 45% of the apartments had been sold to date and the response has been commendable.
Commenting on the advantages of the Food Studio he said that the food court was an integral part of the total development and the first international food concept in Colombo, focusing on bringing over 15 international quality food and beverages across 415 seats.
Food Studio Chairman Lim Tai Toon said: “Food Studio will create a clean, relaxed, unhurried and comfortable environment coupled with a variety of quality, affordable and authentic international cuisine that makes dining at Food Studio a memorable out-of-home family time.”
