April 13, 2010
It will be a 5 day gala affair in Mangalore starting from April 25th 2010, as Mangalore will awaken to an altogether new experience of lifestyle change heralded by the new landmark in the city - “City Centre”. Mangaloreans are all set to embrace the new mall culture and with that life is going to move in a faster pace in the city. The biggest mall of Mangalore, the second biggest mall of Karnataka and India’s 10th largest mall “City Centre” will be inaugurated on April 25, 2010, to add another feather in the cap of Mangalore’s glistening landscape. However some leading brands like Lifestyle will open their store on April 15 itself, which will set the ball rolling for its formal inauguration on 25th April.
With nearly 5,40,000 sq ft sale space, 800 plus car parking provision at 5 levels, this second largest mall in a Tier II city in the country (next only to Alfa Mall in Amritsar) will certainly open up new horizons for the people of the entire belt from Kasaragod to Bhatkal, emerging as a single-destination shopping haven for all their shopping needs. Food courts with multi-cuisine restaurants, fast food joints, gaming, entertainment, shopping, bowling alley, banquet facilities, high-end saloon and spa facility, having a peep into an art gallery or just loitering in the vast expanse of the spacious lobby of the mall – there is everything for everyone and for every age groups all throughout the year.
It has taken 4 years including the crucial testing time of recession period for the project to get completed and to stand tall in all its majesty amid the heart of the city of Mangalore on K S Rao Road and is aptly title “City Centre” keeping its central location in mind. Mired in controversy in the initial stages which was a great set back, this project promoted by reputed developers of Mangalore Mohtisham Group, has withstood the gale and its ramifications and is now all set to open new vistas of life to Mangaloreans. “With the new mall opening no one can no more complain that Mangalore comes to a standstill with the night fall. It is going to be much more fun with people having a new destination to chill out and shop to their heart’s content”, says Deepika Kapoor, General Manager, Marketing and Sales of Mohtisham Estates.
“The City Centre will have 170 plus retail stores including national and international brands which will make shopping in Mangalore a delightful experience”, say S M Arshad, Managing Director, Mohtisham Complexes Private Limited. With tourism promotion high on the agenda of the District Administration under the present regime the opening of this mall will also offer plenty of shopping opportunities for tourists who visit the city on weekends or on work related tour and will have something to take back home.
This 7 plus 4-storey floor mall with its touchstone features is unique in its own way and is sure to give Mangaloreans a new high in shopping akin to the one experienced in metro cities of the country. For the first time Mangaloreans will experience the joy of Hyper Market concept (much larger version of super market) where everything under the sun is available under one roof. SPAR Hyper Market will cater to the all time needs of Mangaloreans at the City Centre. With the inauguration of this mall global and national brands such as Mark & Spencer, KFC, The Body Shop, Gili, Blackberry, Pepe, Soch, Storex, Coffee Day, Westside, several brands of Reliance namely reliance Footprints, Reliance Jewels, Reliance Trends and other brands, hitherto not available will now be accessible in the city. Reliance Time Out in the 4th floor will cater to music and books and they are introducing a new trend of providing college text books to attract college students. “Mangalore being an educational hub this outlet is coming out with this novel idea to attract the younger crowd and facilitate their convenience”, Arshad stated. Reliance alone has bought 20,000 sq ft space in the City Centre and one can imagine the grandeur of shopping in such spacious stores.
Well planned parking facility at City Centre Mall is one of the highlights of this new shopping destination. Top notch priority is given for traffic convenience so that at every level traffic is monitored. Traffic movements after the shopping to each level of parking is also monitored to ensure customer convenience. A special Car Spa facility will be introduced to service the cars coming to the parking lot using latest technology. Apart from the main connectivity through K S Rao Road there will be connectivity through Light House Hill road which is linked to the parking levels of 6 to 8th floors, which will ease traffic congestion.
The mall has as many as 25 escalators 8 elevators and travelator connected to each level of parking at the mall. Mexico based “Cinepolis”, the 4th largest multiplex in the world has put in 5 screens in the 4th floor of the mall with an exclusive VIP theatre being introduced for the first time in the country. The 4th floor will also house a very large food court with as many as 15 express counters offering mouthwatering local, fast food and multi-cuisine food stuff to cater to the gastronomic needs of the people of this cosmopolitan city.
For those who are in the look out for excitement and thrill to go hand in hand with shopping and eating out experience the entertainment section will provide ample scope for getting that extra zing. Amoeba Bowling Alley will satisfy the thirst and the urge of the young and the energetic and those who seek fun and amusement unlimited. Negotiations are underway to introduce Scarry House Mirror Maze concept at the mall to add to the fun element.
Shopping for kids will be an altogether new experience and would be more fun with brands like Baby Care, Mom and Me, Lilliput, Catmoss, Giny & Jony and other brands well known for children’s’ clothing setting up their outlets at City Centre. With ample space available the mall gives an opportunity for the stores to conduct promotional activities throughout the year by providing a platform for the stores to display their products and people will be able to keep abreast of the latest offerings, latest fashion trends and new gadgets available in the market.
The mall also offers banquet facilities for conducting get-togethers, parties and meetings to coalesce celebrations with shopping. For art aficionados there will be an art gallery to give vent to their art indulgences. Mangaloreans have been in search of an organized or decent one-stop-shop destination for all their needs and City Centre is going to fulfill this long standing urge of the people of this coastal belt.
Safety aspect is given top priority at the city centre with provision of latest fire fighting technology at the mall. The entire mall will have CCTV facility with public announcement facility to ensure hassle free and safe shopping experience.
As Arshad puts it “Earlier people were forced to go to metros for their shopping needs. Mangalore has that cream group and they will now be exposed to a new shopping experience with their families and friends. Now City Centre will be able to cater to all their needs for all occasions and seasons. With City Centre we are not just offering it as a shopping destination. It is going to be a destination mall as the shopping needs of the entire coastal belt will be taken care under one roof”.
The coastal city is undergoing a metamorphosis with infrastructural development activities under progress. “City Centre” will be the new shining star that will add luster to this gleaming port city to take it to newer heights of glory.
From Daijiworld Archives (2007):