Another High Street Phoenix mall will open at Kurla this Diwali, spreading over 25 acres. The proposed 4.05 million square foot monster mall, twice the size of Nariman Point, will boast 350 shops, two food courts, 36 food and beverage outlets, extensive office space, a nine-screen multiplex cinema and a 250-bedroom five-star hotel.
The mall, which is a 15-minute drive from Bandra, is targeting those living in Bandra, Kurla, Santa Cruz, Juhu, Vile Parle, Kalina and Chembur. Named Phoenix Market City Mumbai, it is being constructed on LBS Marg in Kurla at a former steel factory site.
Built by The Phoenix Mills Ltd, which owns the flagship High Street Phoenix in Lower Parel, the four-storey mall is their second one in Mumbai. They plan to roll out other malls under the same brand name across India. The hotel, Mumbai Marriott Hotel Kurla, operated by American chain Marriott International, will be the first five-star hotel to come up in the central suburbs.
Adult entertainment
Pritti Ravindra, vice president of leasing at The Phoenix Mills, says: “The main feature of this mall will be the indoors and outdoors family entertainment centre, which will be the largest in the city. We are trying to get clearance for a small rollercoaster outside.
There will be rides and entertainment for adults, so we are looking at an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall and bowling alley, unlike at Lower Parel, where the rides are targeted more at young children.” The mall will also have 3,000 parking spaces underground, 11 escalators, three elevators and a 25,000 square foot indoor courtyard for entertainment.
{{/usCountry}}There will be rides and entertainment for adults, so we are looking at an ice skating rink, rock climbing wall and bowling alley, unlike at Lower Parel, where the rides are targeted more at young children.” The mall will also have 3,000 parking spaces underground, 11 escalators, three elevators and a 25,000 square foot indoor courtyard for entertainment.
{{/usCountry}}“We have paid a great deal of attention to the architecture. Everything will look like the Palladium,” she adds. The cinema, operated by Big Cinemas, will have a 180-seater special screen for children.Marriott International is considering opening a nightclub, apart from four dining options.
The Phoenix Mills management is also in talks with the Hard Rock Café to open a nightclub at the mall.“There will be 350 shops, so any brand you can think of will probably be there,” Ravindra adds. In addition, there will be 20 fine and casual dining restaurants.
The directors are in talks with TGI Fridays over leasing a 6,500 square foot area. “We will have an Indian, Italian and American restaurant, as well as casual dining options like McDonald’s,” Ravindra adds. They are in talks with Landmark and Reliance Timeout for bookstores.
Tata’s Star Bazaar, which has tied up with British supermarket chain, Tesco, will be the mall’s hypermarket, she adds. “The area connects the western and Eastern suburbs and also has easy access to the airport. It is the untapped nerve of the city,” Ravidra concludes.