Mediterranean Cosmos offers unique opportunities to local and international retailers
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Significant investment opportunities in Thessalonikis real estate market Mediterranean Cosmos
The largest Shopping & Leisure Centre in Northern Greece offers unique opportunities to local and international retailers
Thessaloniki, Greece The first and largest shopping and leisure centre of its kind in Greece, Mediterranean Cosmos, was presented today to Thessalonikis political, financial, commercial and business communities at an event that took place at the Makedonia Palace Hotel. On the morning of the same day, the Themelios Lithos ceremony and a blessing took place at the Centres construction site, with the presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Melitonas of Philadelphia and other members of the Patriarchate.
Located in the largest municipality of Thessaloniki, Pylea, the innovative commercial and leisure Centre represents a new source of business opportunities for local and international retailers. Furthermore, Mediterranean Cosmos is expected to contribute to the overall growth and development of Pylea and, to further strengthen Thessalonikis rapidly growing political, cultural and industrial presence in Southeastern Europe.
The Centre is currently under development by PYLEA S.A. (60.1% LAMDA Development, 39.9% SonaeCharagionis) and will offer local residents, international business visitors and tourists a compelling blend of retail, leisure and cultural activities.
An array of warm Mediterranean elements surrounded todays event, which included detailed information about the architecture, construction, operations and philosophy behind the Centre. The event included presentations from senior management from LAMDA Development and Sonae-Charagionis, as well as the specific opportunities at Mediterranean Cosmos such as leasing of units, co-operations and strategic partnerships.
The event continued with presentations and attendance from Mr. Lambros Anagnostopoulos, CEO of LAMDA Development, Mr. Alvaro Portela, President of the Board of Directors of Sonae Imobiliaria, Mr. Theodoros Charagionis, CEO of the Charagionis Group of Companies, Mr. Alexandros Dimakopoulos, CEO of LAMDA Estate Development, Mr. Lefteris Tassoulas, Commercialization Manager of LAMDA Estate Development, and Mr. Joao Fonseca, Commercialization Director of Sonae Imobiliaria. The Mayor of Pylea, Mr. Vassilis Kartalis, welcomed the participants with a speech while important representatives from the local authorities and Thessalonikis political community also attended the event.
Mediterranean Cosmos stands on a 250,000 m2 site, which belongs to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and provides 45,000 m2 GLA and 3,000 parking spaces. World-class centres of this kind have already proven their success in many countries around the world and offer the Greek market a completely new and highly significant business product.
The Centre is expected to drastically change the shopping habits of Greek consumers by offering a single location for all their retail, service and entertainment needs. Designed to attract people of all ages, Mediterranean Cosmos project description includes:
Location: Municipality of Pylea in Thessaloniki, Greece
Catchment area: Easy access from Thessaloniki city centre and surrounding regions, including Thessaloniki International Airport (five-minute drive); vehicle access from all directions, forming part of the Thessaloniki public bus transit route; direct link to Southeastern Europe via Egnatia Motorway, which, upon completion, will link Turkey and Northern Greece to the Adriatic Sea and Italy (via ferry).
Estimated number of inhabitants in the catchment area: 1,300,000
1,000,000 local residents
100,000 university students & faculty
100,000 visitors from within Greece
100, 000 visitors from abroad
Gross Leasable Area (GLA): 45,000 m2
Parking: 3,000 spaces free of charge
Offering: major anchor retailers and a wide array of unit shops (226), a supermarket, a multiplex cinema (11 screens), a Gold Class and outdoor cinema, a multi-unit food court, a bowling and family leisure centre, a traditional Greek neighbourhood and cultural quarter
Investment value: 100 million
Date of Completion: Spring 2005
Corporate: 60.1% LAMDA Development, 39.9% Sonae-Charagionis
Inspired by a warm Mediterranean climate and landscape, the elements of Earth, Air, Water, Myth, Art, Culture are successfully integrated throughout the Centre, providing a memorable customer experience. Pedestrian-friendly shopping streets transform into treasure trails themed with different materials (stone, wood, gold, crystal and ceramic), leading visitors to a truly new shopping and entertainment experience. One of the Centres major features, a traditional Greek neighbourhood, comprises a church, a museum, artisan shops, traditional taverns, an open civic space and a 500-seat outdoor amphitheatre for the staging of musical events, dance performances and festivals.
For more information, please contact CIVITAS:
Georgia Zarkinou: +30 210 6852400 (ext. 218), [email protected]
Efi Kirinopoulou : +30 210 6852400 (ext. 238), [email protected]
Pandora Lycouri: +30 210 6835 403, [email protected]