Excavation works will begin soon on the Byblos Mall, which is slated to open in late 2017 at the Jbeil entrance, towards Mar Charbel.
Nabil Hawat, major shareholder of Byblos Mall, said: “Jbeil still lacks a mall concept.”
The mall will include three aboveground floors of 15,000 square meters each. It will also comprise three underground floors for visitor parking that can host up to 1,120 cars. Hawat said that the Gross Leasing Area (GLA) on each floor is 9,000 m2, and the common spaces are 8,000 m2.
Investment in Byblos Mall is $48 million, excluding the cost of the land, which is leased for 30 years starting this year, from the Maronite Waqf.
The mall will include retail shops, restaurants, and cinemas. Around 4,500 m2 are dedicated for movie theaters. Hawat said that they signed a contract with Empire Cinemas to operate them.
The outlets will be available for leasing only. Leasing prices will be in the $600-$800/m2 range. Hawat said that around 85 percent of the outlets have been booked already. “We are negotiating with international brands,” he said.
Erga Group designs the mall. No contractor has been assigned yet.
Hawat Investment, owner of Byblos Mall, is a joint venture between Hawat and his brother Jbeil Mayor, Ziad Hawat.
businessnews.com.lb
19 June
