Lulu Mall, Kochi
Set to redefine the shopping culture of Kerala, Lulu Shopping Mall, the biggest in India, located at Edappally bypass will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on March 10.The mall will start functioning from 4 pm on the same day. Spread across 17 acres, Lulu Shopping Mall with a space of 25 lakh sqft is built with a cost of `1,600 crore with 55,000 sqft exclusively for the kids.As many as 320 international and national brands have a presence in the mall, out of which 46 are coming to the state for the first time. According to officials, about 30 new brands including Walt Disney and Barbie will come to the mall soon.Nine cinema screens with a total capacity of 2,250 seats will open in the mall by early April. Marriot Hotel, which is under construction near Lulu Mall, will be completed before end of this year. The mall has entrance from NH-47 and NH-17.“This is our first retail venture in India though we have such malls in nine countries in the Middle East. But we already have a strong brand loyalty in Kerala because of the long-standing Gulf connection of the Keralites. Our studies have found that Kerala with fast-rising middle class possessing abundant disposable income offers enormous potential for the operation of such a world-class shopping mall. It is a matter of pride for me that this mall will be among India’s biggest,” said M A Yusuffali, managing director, Lulu Group.Inside the mall, there is a food court with a capacity for 3500 people and 18 food counters. The first Mac Donald Restaurant in Kerala will be opened at Lulu Mall, said Shibu Philips, business head, Lulu International Shopping Mall.The mall will have an indoor ice-skating rink, a 5-D cinema hall, bowling alleys, water rides and electronic games. The mall provides a parking area for over 3,000 vehicles. The other facilities include ATM, money exchange, pharmacy, travel and holidays desk and a Federal Bank branch functioning in the mall. The mall expects about 50,000 visitors a day and the expected monthly revenue is `80-`100 crore, said the officials.“We are all set to provide a total family experience through this mall,” said Nishad M A, director, Lulu International Shopping Mall. The other projects of Lulu group, which own Lulu Shopping Mall, in Kerala include, International Convention and Exhibition Center at Bolghatty, State of Art Wear House and Logistics Centre at Aluva and International Convention Centre and Hotel at Kozhikode.Source: http://newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/article1486940.ece
