It’s hurray time for Lebanon’s consumer society. Shopaholics, retail marketers, mall strategists and their assorted public relations minions are gearing up for the launch of the third ABC Mall in Lebanon. The new retail temple is slated to open its doors this summer in Beirut’s Verdun quarter. It will accommodate over 200 stores, including its signature 10,000 square meter (sqm) department store. With a total gross leasable area (GLA) of 50,000 sqm, the mall promises to provide plenty of leisure opportunities, from a multiplex cinema, to a roof garden and restaurants. The mall was designed by US-based architects Callison (today CallisonRTKL), a Seattle firm specialized in mall architecture, and a leader in the design of retail environments. With its design, commercial and leisure offerings, and a built-up-area (BUA) of 120,000 sqm, the opening of ABC Mall in Verdun is going to change the urban fabric of the Lebanese capital, both
