With the rapid growth of the Zhu Jiang New Town CBD, Hong Kong-listed developer Yuexiu REIT has opened a retail podium in its Guangzhou IFC complex.
Yuexiu describes the retail precinct as “a new landmark for elite” and further evidence of its plan to upgrade and integrate modern shopping facilities in its mixed use developments.
Guangzhou IFC has already become a high-profile landmark of the Zhujiang New Town CBD, comprising a super Grade-A office building, the Guangzhou Four Seasons Hotel, the Ascott Serviced Apartments, the International Conference Centre and now the shopping mall which includes high-end brands and an array of new dining venues.
Yuexiu says the office building had an occupancy rate of 97.36 per cent at the end of 2015 and as more and more domestic and foreign corporations move their headquarters to the Zhujiang New Town, the centre’s fast-growing consumer market has provided a ready catchment of retail shoppers.
The expanded retail offer includes a collection of international restaurants and cafes on the 4th ,5th and part of B1 floors with the total area of 13,800 sqm, all located in a podium beneath the 103 storey commercial tower.
CEO Lin Deliang says the GZIFC shopping mall will take care of the daily needs of the white-collar professionals and businessmen.
“Aspiring to become a new landmark that brings facilities for shopping, lifestyle, fashion and leisure in the elite life together, GZIFC Shopping Mall will enhance the customer experience with the services by ensuring the comprehensiveness of the tenant mix and the suitability of the brands of the tenants,” he said after last week’s opening.
“The company redesigned the layout and customer flow line of the GZIFC Shopping Mall, improved the signage system for shopping environment and enhanced its own operation of the commercial property to transform Guangzhou IFC’s retail podium into GZIFC Shopping Mall and to match its new positioning.”
External designers were commissioned to upgrade the composition of the shopping mall based on the concept of ‘Sunshine, Vigour and Forest Breeze’. The design of the rooftop and the spacious layout which is modelled in the shape of trees, convey a feel of sunshine and forest.
Currently, the mall houses international coffee shops including Starbucks and Costa and cuisines including Sichuan, Southeast Asian, Japan and Western cuisine. Among them: Backstreet Restaurant, Romance of Sichuan, Taste Now, Genki Sushi and Kajiken Ramen.
The opening of the mall coincided with the debut of the world’s first Emoji’s creative space, which is located inside the mall.