Beirut City Centre mall – a work in progress

The much-anticipated Beirut City Centre (BCC) mall finally opened its doors last week and thousands of Lebanese have already flocked to Hazmieh, causing chaos on the already congested roads leading to the venue. Boasting forty new brands or “firsts in the country”, there is certainly a lot to get excited about but, as the initial hype dies down, one wonders if the mall has what it takes to keep customers coming back. The mall, in the Hazmieh area of Beirut, is impressive in size but perhaps not in architecture From the outside, BCC is rather basic, especially compared to some rivals that have invested heavily in their exterior appearance. But the 65,000 square meter interior is well organized despite its size, divided into three floors with strategically placed escalators that give it a manageable and structured feel. The shopping experience, however, currently feels like a work in progress as many