The Grand Chennai, inspired by the Clarke Quay area in Singapore, will become operational by May, 2012. Developed as a mixed-use development by PS Srijan Group, the mall will house restaurants, entertainment zones, retail shops, a food street named "The Grand Arcade," and a residential complex (Grand Residency). Spread across a built-up area of 3,77,000 sq.ft., the gross leasable area of the mall will be 2,26,000 sq.ft.
Talking about the importance of the catchment profile, Payal Chopra, Leasing and Marketing Head, The Grand, said: "Velachery is the fastest growing residential and commercial area adjacent to the IT and healthcare hub of Chennai situated in Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR). This is also becoming the fastest growing retail and food destination. There is no shopping mall or multiplex within 10-km radius today which makes it an ideal location for developing a mall and food street. Velachery is also surrounded by the high-profile residential areas of Neelankarai, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur, ECR, and OMR which ensures high footfall with the right spending power."
"We expect a footfall of 20,000 and 30,000 on weekdays and weekends, respectively. Almost 80 percent of the mall is already leased out with Croma and Shoppers Stop as the anchors. The mall will have local, national, and international brands in the retail space," added Chopra.
Eskay Design will take care of both exterior and interior designs along with the lighting. The mall will be maintained and operated by PS Srijan Group. Mitsubishi will provide the lifts and elevators; and Ong & Ong – the landscaping.
The Grand mall will have five lifts and 11 elevators, two entries and one exit, four floors accommodating 90 stores. Prasanna Hospitality will maintain the food court which will spread across 19,000 sq.ft. It will also have a five-screen multiplex by Cinemax consisting of 1,250 seats and spread across 50,000 sq.ft. There will be two basement-covered parkings spread over 1,21,000 sq.ft. with a four-wheeler and two-wheeler parking capacity of 450.
-Priti Payal
