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The Avenues – Bahrain, the kingdom’s latest shopping, dining and leisure ‘outdoors, indoors’ attraction opened its doors to the public on Sunday and the curiosity factor and the new retail and dining options unveiled have residents flocking to see what’s in store.
Tourism executives and its owners will be hoping the brand’s glowing reputation created in Kuwait, where its mall has proved to be a magnet for visitors, will spin-off to the kingdom and draw in the crowds from neighbouring Gulf States.
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, was given a special tour 24-hours earlier and was visibly impressed.
He was joined early on Saturday evening by his son Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, and senior officials, alongside representatives of the mall operators ... and GulfWeekly was invited along too.
The outlet and restaurant teams gathered at the entrances to catch a glimpse of the royal party and the Crown Prince waved at them as well as taking the time to warmly shake hands with those who greeted him.
The Crown Prince praised the complex’s unique architectural design, stressing that Bahrain will continue to improve its regulatory framework to encourage further investment in world-class entertainment and lifestyle projects.
He also spoke of the positive impact the retail sector has on economic growth, and stressed that Bahrain ‘recognises the important role’ it plays in private sector job creation.
The chairman of project owner Sorouh Al-Bahrain, Mohammed Al Shaya, extended his sincere appreciation to the Crown Prince, who was presented with a stunning hawk artwork and sceptre to mark the occasion, for officially opening of The Avenues – Bahrain.
It is being heralded as ‘the first commercial and entertainment mall of its kind in the kingdom’, set in a unique 1.5km waterfront location opposite Bahrain Bay.
It has been designed in a similar theme to The Avenues in Kuwait, one of the leading tourism landmarks in the region which attracts millions of visitors every year. The Avenues-Kuwait was created by Mabanee, a Kuwaiti shareholding company that operates under three main business lines, namely real estate, investment and construction.
The architectural designs of both malls give visitors an ‘outdoor shopping feeling whilst remaining indoors’.
Its covered roof allows for sunlight to pass through but keeps the heat out. It is also designed in an innovative recreational style that allows the public to have access to the sea front.
“We are delighted that the Kingdom of Bahrain is the first country outside Kuwait to launch The Avenues,” Mr Al Shaya said, whilst praising Bahrain’s investment environment.
The implementation of the first phase of the project, including the Grand Avenue and the Harbour took two years to complete at a cost of BD60 million. It includes 130 retail stores and a leasing space of around 40,000sqm, half of which is devoted to restaurants and cafes, all of them overlooking Bahrain Bay.
At the launch, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa, chief executive officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, told GulfWeekly Editor Stan Szecowka: “The Avenues will add value to the tourism infrastructure of Bahrain.
“When we look at tourism expenditure per capita the main two elements are shopping and accommodation, so creating such a mall will attract more tourists.”
The project will include a large family entertainment area, 12 cinemas, public parks, walkways, an outdoor jogging track with gym equipment on the side, children’s play areas, plus parking spaces for 1,500 vehicles.
When the doors to The Avenues – Bahrain finally opened to shoppers an orderly queue soon formed at The Cheesecake Factory, one of its major draws. The American chain has a reputation for impressive helpings.
Jon Norotsky, global director of operations for The Cheesecake Factory, which falls under the Alshaya umbrella, said: “We are honoured and happy to be finally opened in Bahrain at this amazing and spectacular mall.
“I think this is going to be a very fun and busy restaurant. We opened at 10.45am, 15-minutes early, and we have been busy ever since with people waiting in lines. However, it’s not like a three-hour wait. They were waiting for 15 to 30 minutes and the line was moving quickly. People seem to be happy and we are excited about the future.”
The Filipino Acusta family snapped up some of the restaurant’s popular desserts. IT professional Errole, 36, and his wife, Elenor, 31, travelled from their Adliya home to enjoy a stroll along the Grand Avenue with their daughters, 18-months-old Eleana and Erah, six.
“Although we weren’t able to dine-in because the place was full, we managed to grab some cheesecake to-go which was awesome!” Errole said. “The mall has a great ambiance and once more stores open it will be even better.”
Bahraini Ibtisam Attaala, 39, and her daughters Amna Mohammed, 14, and Muneera, nine, visited the mall straight after the children were let out of school. Ibtisam also took her mother, Amna, and niece Jinan AlHasan, 22, who works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to check out the shopping destination.
Ibtisam said: “It’s amazing and according to my mother is very much like the one in Kuwait. We live in Busaiteen so it’s quite easy for us to get to and the layout and design is beautiful.
“The shopping is wonderful too. We completed one round, took the bags to the car and came back for Round Two! There are so many deals and it looks like the shops are offering the latest looks and styles.”
Lebanese business development manager Angela Nassif, 33, also enjoyed a shopping trip with her husband, Ahmad Hamzah, 33, a hair salon manager, and their three-year-old daughter, Noor.
Angela, from Saar, said: “I loved the indoor-outdoor feeling and the mall looks interesting.”
The mall features popular brands such as clothes stores H&M, Riva, dates dsitribuitor Bateel and beauty shop Sephora. Outlets and restaurants new to the kingdom include NYX, Urban Decay, Kiehl’s, Aveda, Arabica Coffee, Angelina Paris, Bridgewater Chocolate, Blend it, Cafe Bazza, Cafe Coco, Five Guys, Joe’s Café, Le Pain Quotidien, Le Relais de l’Entrecote, Melenzane, 400 Gradi, Spun Candy, Signature Juice, Texas Roadhouse, West Elm, WH Smith and Katsuya.
