It has been almost two months since work kicked off to redevelop the Mall of Engomi, Atterbury Europe’s second mall project in the Cyprus capital of Nicosia. In less than a year the affluent suburb of Engomi will enjoy the convenience and variety of a modern destination shopping experience. Atterbury Europe Development Manager Roux Gerber shares the finer details of the development process.

The redevelopment kicked off during July, is that right? What does the project entail, how long will it take until completion, and is it being done in a phased way?

The redevelopment kicked off on 15 July 2020 and the process will stretch over a period of 12 months. The mall is being given an exciting new façade that will open to the main street front and will reflect a fresh, modern look. Internally, the existing retail space will be reconfigured to create a new food court that will stretch seamlessly from inside the mall to an external balcony overlooking the streetscape. With the exception of the two anchor shops, Sklavenitis and Superhome, the mall is being redeveloped for a whole new tenant mix that is more focused on the demands of the area. The project is divided into two phases, which will open in April 2021 and July 2021 respectively.

What is happening on the site right now; have Covid-19 regulations impacted on the project in any way?

The site has been enclosed with hoardings that show images of the look and feel of the redevelopment once completed. Superhome, the hardware anchor, and Sklavenitis, the food anchor, are continuing to trade during the redevelopment process. Old internal walls and ceilings are being demolished to create new areas, and the walls and structures for the new layout are being prepared, while material orders for mall finishes are being finalised. In anticipation of the potential impact of COVID-19, the procurement items requiring long lead times were ordered in advance, which has proved to have been the right decision. To date, the impact of COVID-19 restrictions could be accommodated in the redevelopment programme, with no effect on the completion date.

What measures have been set in place to keep disruption to a minimum for those anchor tenants that are continuing to trade throughout the process?

The current COVID-19 restrictions required a single entrance and single exit to the stores, which in effect were helped by deploying the hoardings on site. Both Sklavenitis and Superhome have undisrupted access from the open and basement parking lots, and as the redevelopment works are mainly concentrated on the front half of the building – the street front – their trading is, fortunately, not affected at all.

Tell us a bit about the area surrounding the Mall of Engomi? What is the nature of the community who frequent the mall?

Engomi is regarded as an affluent and sought-after residential area of Nicosia, but at the same time it’s home to the main universities in the country, with many student dorms within walking distance of the mall. Consequently, the main aim of the redevelopment is to create a retail and entertainment offering that balances the demands and needs of the younger student population with those of the affluent permanent residents in the neighbourhood. The location and access remain first class and the new look of Mall of Engomi will add exciting new retail experiences for all categories of shoppers.

Are there other shopping facilities in the area; and what has been identified as lacking in what is currently on offer?

Our main competitor is about 10km away on the unpopulated outskirts of the city, and it services a demand that is in contrast to Mall of Engomi’s superior and densely populated location. The introduction of both sit-down restaurants and a modern food court alongside an entertainment venue is much needed in the area and completely new. There is also currently nothing that provides the convenience of an “everything under one roof” destination that combines multiple retail profiles, from clothing, shoes and lingerie to sports, cosmetics, and electronics; and services such as a beauty salon, barber shop and more.

How would you describe the benefits that the expanded mall will offer the surrounding community, as well as prospective tenants?

Engomi is gaining a gathering place in the heart of the city, where the community will be able to experience modern retail in an environment focused on their particular needs. The exciting new tenant mix will be hand-selected to provide for the specific demands of the people who live in the area and presented in a first-of-its-kind, truly modern and fresh space.

What lessons have been learnt in developing Mall of Cyprus that are being applied on this project at Mall of Engomi?

Timeframes are important and to plan for precision delivery on an island comes with its own challenges, such as the cost-effective supply of materials, which are mostly imported. The importance of clear communication channels can’t be overstated, especially considering the language differences. To facilitate this, we’ve engaged the services of a Greek-speaking Cypriot, Polys Tsiartziazis, as our full-time in-house project manager, which ensures clear communication of our strict delivery deadlines. We also engaged the same contractor we used in the expansion of Mall of Cyprus to ensure continuity of experience and client expectations that was already transferred during the Mall of Cyprus project. Lastly, we ensured sufficient parking and good access to Mall of Engomi, throughout the redevelopment, to retain the current customer base.

Are you already discussing leasing with prospective tenants? What is the demand like?

The Mall of Engomi is already more that 70% let and we are in negotiations with tenants on each and every retail space available. In fact, in many cases we have more than one prospect tenant aligned for the same space. The demand and interest has been overwhelming despite the restrictions and new measures that the COVID -19 pandemic has brought to the retail environment.

How do prospective tenants find out more about the opportunities in this exciting new development?

The hoarding, which is the protective screen between the works and the outside environment, has been branded with images and contact details. This has to date proved valuable in generating new enquiries. Marketing material is available on the mall website – https://www.themallofengomi.com/. The man on the ground coordinating leasing activities is Julian Smit (General Manager Operation in Cyprus), who may be contacted directly on Julian.Smith@mallofcyprus.com or +357 97 777009.