FIRST, THE BASICS

Acropolis in Greek means “a settlement built upon an area of elevated ground”. Calcutta’s Acropolis will open on the Rashbehari Avenue connector, on your right after you turn right off the EM Bypass from the Ruby roundabout, and proceed towards Gariahat with The Gateway Hotel on your left.

The total size of the mall is 275,000sq ft (G+4) with parking space for 700 cars over three basement levels. That’s roughly half the size of South City Mall.

IT OPENS...

Hopefully, this year. “The mall is in the concluding stage and we plan to start operations in the last quarter of this year. Our target is pre-Puja,” said Sushil Mohta, MD, Merlin Group.

Bouquet of brands

The anchor brands are Shoppers Stop with around 50,000sq ft spread across three levels and Cinepolis above it occupying 35,000sq ft. Around 90 retail shops including the anchors and F&B will open. “We are looking at aspirational and bridge brands... premium bridge to luxury,” said Satyen Sanghvi, director (projects), Merlin Group.

Some of the confirmed names are Vero Moda, Only, Jack & Jones, Parcos, W, Jashn, Bata, And, Global Desi, Baggit and Woodlands.

Psssst: If things work out, we may see a coffee chain we’re all waiting for!

SIP & BITE

A 450-seater food court on the third floor will be spread across 15,000sq ft. The mall is toying with the idea of a 100-seater “waiter-served food court” on the mezzanine level, which will come at a slight premium.

There will be scope for six restaurants on the fourth floor. Some existing F&B brands have gone in for new formats. Mainland China is opening Mainland China Asia Kitchen (MLCAK). And Flame and Grill will open its “global grill” format with grills from around the world.

THE TOWER ON TOP OF THE MALL IS...

350,000sq ft of office space over 21 floors. “There is a big demand for office space in this area, especially ready spaces. Around 85 per cent of office space has already been taken,” said Mohta. Some of the names include Indian Oil Petronas, Elecon Engineering Company and IT, share broker and steel manufacturing firms. “Something unique” is being planned on the rooftop given the view from the 21st floor!

THE FANCY LOOK...

Is thanks to Bentel Associates, who are the retail experts, and Edifice, the resident architect of the project.

The mall’s exterior facade is a combination of granite and glass while the office space is made of glass and zinc panels.

“Inside, there will be a huge atrium in the centre of the mall with strong visibility of all the brands on the upper floors from the ground,” said Sanghvi.

For the retailer, there’s good news. “In South City, we insisted on one kind of decor but in this mall we have given liberty to each retailer with respect to colour scheme or design. Following the format of malls in places like Singapore, each shop will have its own identity and we are fine with that,” said Mohta.

THE NEW MALL TREND: ZONING!

If you notice, you’ll spot a small trend in the newer malls that have come up — zoning. Which means, for example, all the beauty stores are located on one floor and next to each other.

“What’s happening is that nowadays brands are also maturing. They realise that if you have the right tenant mix, the shopper will reach you even if you’re not on the ground floor. So the like-minded brands are zoned together and the shopper is bound to go where he or she will get the whole range of products,” said Sanghvi.

So at Acropolis, the ground floor stocks international labels, accessories and cosmetics, “which have more impulse buying, and stores that are more attractive and can afford a little more rental”. The first floor is menswear, luggage, shoes and accessories and the second floor has women and kidswear.

The developer-retail relationship has also matured. “More than rental, it’s a revenue-share and minimum-guarantee model depending on the brand,” said Mohta. “South City was a learning phase. We insist on a revenue-share and the brand’s data is also shared so that healthy brands can replace unhealthy ones in the future.”

THERE’S A STADIUM NEXT DOOR...

Wondering where you can just hang around the mall? That would have to be the atrium because bulk of the open space has gone to the Gitanjali Stadium next door which the mall can “take on rent from the authorities for big fashion shows and concerts”.

INVESTMENT

“The total project cost is about Rs 400 crore of which around Rs 200-250 crore is for the mall,” said Mohta.

CATCHMENT AREAS

Gariahat, Ballygunge, Rashbehari, even Park Circus and south Calcutta on one side. As well as the new developing areas like EM Bypass, upper middle class families from housing complexes ranging from Avishikta-Shrachi to Upohar-Hiland Park and even Urbana “the most pricey complex’,” added Mohta.

A NEW MULTIPLEX!

Cinepolis (the ‘polis’ is just a coincidence!) is “the fourth-largest multiplex chain worldwide”. The Mexican chain of multiplexes will open at Acropolis with four screens and around 925 seats on the third and fourth floors. The comfort factor? “Stadium-seating, which gives 1.2m of leg space and full screen viewing even if a 6ft tall person is sitting in front of you,” said Nitin Raj Behl, general manager, business development, Cinepolis India, the chain that has 84 screens in India so far including the largest megaplex in Pune.

The other plus point is “an enhanced 3D experience” thanks to what is called the ‘RealD’ technology. And on the food front, apart from cola, popcorn and nachos, a “proper coffee shop” called Coffee Tree. “No pre-packed sandwiches. We serve freshly prepared gourmet food — sandwich, pizza and burger — from the live kitchen,” added Behl. There will also be coffee, tea, mojito (virgin only!) and shakes. The grub can be ordered and it will be served to you in your seat.

For the first time, an “open lobby concept” makes it possible for mall-goers to have access to the food zone — and the washroom — of a plex. For that, you need to retain your ticket so that you can produce it before entry to the audi.

The best part? Non-veg snacks will be available for the foodie movie-goers.

Karo Christine Kumar