amazing cochin / kochi : Malls In Cochin

Malls

A shopping mall, shopping center/centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct, or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area – a modern, indoor version of the traditional marketplaces.

As traders moved into more spacious shops in the early 19th century high streetsdeveloped, but wealthier people (who could afford to travel to city centres for pleasure) started wanting shelter from rain, so shopping arcades were developed. With new innovations like escalators these evolved into shopping centres and with the rise of the automobile these evolved into shopping malls.

From early on, the design tended to be inward-facing, with malls following theories of how customers could best be enticed in a controlled environment. Similar, the concept of a mall having one or more "anchor stores" or "big box stores" was pioneered early, with individual stores or smaller-scale chain storesintended to benefit from the shoppers attracted by the big stores.

One of the earliest examples of public shopping malls come from Ancient Rome in forums where shopping markets were located. One of the earliest public shopping centers isTrajan's Market in Rome located in Trajan's Forum. Trajan's Market was probably built around 100-110 AD by Apollodorus of Damascus, and is thought to be the world's oldest shopping center and a forerunner for the shopping mall.

The Grand Bazaar of Istanbulwas built in the 15th century and is still one of the largest covered shopping centers in the world, with more than 58 streets and 4,000 shops. Numerous other covered shopping arcades, such as the 19th-century Al-Hamidiyah Souq in Damascus, Syria, might also be considered precursors to the present-day shopping mall.[6] Isfahan's Grand Bazaar, which is largely covered, dates from the 10th century. The 10 kilometer long covered Tehran's Grand Bazaar also has a long history.

Gostiny Dvor in St. Petersburg, which opened in 1785, may be regarded as one of the first purposely-built mall-type shopping complexes, as it consisted of more than 100 shops covering an area of over 53,000 m2 (570,000 sq ft).

The Marché des Enfants-Rouges in Paris opened in 1628 and still runs today. The Oxford Covered Market in Oxford, England opened in 1774 and still runs today.

The Passage du Caire was opened in Paris in 1798.[7] The Burlington Arcade in London was opened in 1819. The Arcade in Providence, Rhode Island introduced the retail arcade concept to the United States in 1828.[8] The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italyfollowed in the 1870s and is closer to large modern malls in spaciousness.

Other large cities created arcades and shopping centers in the late 19th century and early 20th century, including the Cleveland Arcade, Dayton Arcade and Moscow's GUM, which opened in 1890. Early shopping centers designed for the automobile include Market Square, Lake Forest, Illinois (1916), and Country Club Plaza,Kansas City, Missouri (1924).

An early indoor mall prototype in the United States was the Lake View Store at Morgan Park, Duluth, Minnesota, which was built in 1915 and held its grand opening on July 20, 1916. The architect was Dean and Dean from Chicago and the building contractor was George H. Lounsberry from Duluth. The building is two stories with a full basement, and shops were originally located on all three levels. All of the stores were located within the interior of the mall; some shops were accessible from inside and out.

In the mid-20th century, with the rise of the suburb and automobile culture in the United States, a new style of shopping center was created away from downtown.[9] Mall construction in America was encouraged by the accelerated depreciation laws of 1954, which incentivized greenfield development on the urban fringe. A second stimulus came from legislation passed in 1960, which allowed investors to band together in REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) to avoid corporate income taxes. The laws helped to shape the familiar exurban landscape of malls, motels and fast food chains

The phrase shopping mall consists of two words, shopping and mall. A shopping mall is basically a shopping complex or a market place. But then a bazaar is also a market place.

There is a difference between a shopping mall and a bazaar. A bazaar is a linear concept. It consists of generally a long road or a street, running along the city, usually in its center, with big and small shops on both its sides. The road or the street may be a busy traffic road with pedestrians and all kinds of vehicles running and even honking upon it.

A shopping mall ideally is not part of the road side bazaar, though there may be exceptions. It is an enclosed and independent shopping complex or an arcade with a specified space for parking of cars and other vehicles.

Shopping malls are, in some cases, located away from the busy streets of the city. They are located either on its suburbs or a few minutes drive away from the city. The reason may possibly be the shortage of space inside the city, because a shopping mall is usually a complex of huge and spacious buildings.

But why the word ‘mall’ instead of ‘complex’ or a ‘centre’? Is it because ‘mall’ is a more ‘in’, a fashionable word, and a hep expression?

The answer is both yes and no. The word ‘shopping’ appears to have been attached to ‘mall’ to take advantage of the pleasant connotations that the word ‘mall’ is associated with.

A mall is “a promenade, a public place set aside as a pedestrian walk. It is a major street used by the gentry for shopping and recreational activities”. It is “a sheltered walkway, a promenade bordered by trees, shrubs and flowers.”

We have an example of a Mall Road in Civil Lines area in North Delhi. Unfortunately this Mall Road has lost its original pleasant character.

So, shopping mall is an enclosed set of carefully landscaped complex of buildings representing leading merchandisers with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit. Besides shopping it also provides recreation to the city’s residents.

Malls In Cochin : -

The Kochi Bypass is a bypass segment of NH 47 that bypasses the CBD of the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. The highway stretches 17 km from Edapally in the north to Aroor in Alappuzha district in the south,

via Vyttila, kundannoor, Maradu. The Government of Kerala began the preliminary works in 1973.[1] After a slow progress, it was partially opened for traffic in the beginning years of 1980s. The section between Edapally and Vyttila had four lanes from the beginning. The rest of the carriageway is also upgraded to 4 lanes and 6 lanes in 2010

The idea was to bypass the truck traffic out of the city proper. However now the city has outgrown the bypass leading to a heavy suburban traffic. Today, this road has turned out to be the most important arterial road in Kochi.

The spacious road is going to replace the MG Road as the state's major commercial avenue in a few years time. Space crunch has really started to take toll on the MG Road, and the NH Bypass provides answer to all the problems faced by the former.

Bypass Road has enough width to accommodate an 8 lane carriageway, service roads and a median. This 17-km stretch of road running across the city has become the hub of business for the city. This road Edapally - Aroor bypass slowly overtake MG road as the commercial hotspot of Kochi City and also Kerala state.

There Are Two Malls In Cochin & They Are : -

Oberon Mall

LuLu International Shopping Mall

Oberon Mall :

Oberon Mall is a shopping mall located in the Indian city of Kochi and the current second largest lifestyle mall in Kerala in operation, after the newer and bigger Lulu Cochin Mall. The mall is also the first full format mall in Kerala, opened formally on March 2, 2009, though the mall was launched in 2008. The cost of construction of the mall is about 1 billion. It is built on an area of 47,000 square metres (510,000 sq ft) across five floors of shops and office spaces and covering grounds of up to 6 acres (2.4 ha).

Oberon Mall was developed and promoted by the Oberon Group of Companies, India. The mall is one of the busiest shopping avenues for the city of Cochin.

Oberon Mall is a shopping mall located in the Indian city of Kochi and the current largest lifestyle mall in Kerala in operation. The mall is also the first full format mall in Kerala, opened formally on March 2, 2009, though the mall was launched in 2008. The cost of construction of the mall is about Rs. 1 billion. It is built on an area of 39,600 square metres (426,000 sq ft) across five floors of shops and office spaces and covering grounds of up to 6 acres (2.4 ha).

Oberon Mall was developed and promoted by the Oberon Group of Companies, India. The mall is one of the busiest shopping avenues for the city of Cochin. Oberon Mall is located on the NH 47 Bypass at Edapally, one of the commercial centres in Kochi, Kerala.

Features:

The Mall has almost all similar standard features of a full format mall. However some of the main features are

The first full format mall of Kerala
The first Multiplex theatre facility in Kerala
The first Indoor gaming zone facility in Kerala
One of the largest Glass dome in South India.

Anchors:

Clothing And Apparel
Kids
Luxuries And Jewelery
Electronics And Computers
Leather, Footwear And Travel
Opticals

Services And Facilities:

Beauty
Banks And Money
Food Court
Eat Outs
Fine Restaurants

Entertainment:

4 screen Multiplex operated by Cinemax with Snack bar and Gold Class
3,500 sq ft (330 sq mt) Computer game zone operated by Boomerang Gaming VenturesScary House- An ghost theme amusement center
Mirror Maze- A game room with maze of mirrors
Cricket Zone- A bowling Alley

It’s the most happening place in Kochi. Located on NH Bye Pass, just 3 kms from Edapally Junction, Oberon MALL is more than just a mall. Call it a lifestyle center if you please or better still, the perfect family destination or perhaps simply ‘urban entertainment’. It’s got everything to keep you on your feet and coming back for more.

Offering a truly 'shoppertainment experience', Oberon MALL attracts hundreds of people from every corner of the city to experience shopping, entertainment and food in an international ambience, everyday.

About your Travel Journey

Road Distance or driving distance from Oberon Mall, Edapaly to Kakkanad,Kochi is 126 kms(78.00 miles). For customizing your travel journey you might consider adding some stop over points or adding some night stops here.

Your total travel time is approximately 2 hour(s) 2 min(s); which may vary depending upon the road and traffic conditions.

For More Detail Visit :

Websitewww.oberonmall.com

LuLu International Shopping Mall

The largest malls in India – LuLu Mall was inaugurated by Shri. Oommen Chandy at a glittering function held in Kochi. The CM inaugurated the mall and also unveiled a plaque to commemorate the grand opening. Leader of Opposition, Shri. V. S. Achuthanandan was the chief guest of the event. Shri. Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister and Shaikh Abdulla Al Saleh, UAE Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade were the Guests of Honour.

Union Minister Prof. K. V. Thomas launched the LuLu loyalty card, state minister P. K. KunhaliKutty launched LuLu Mall website, and TKA Nair, Advisor to the Prime Minister launched a mall guide on the occasion. The opening ceremony was also attended by leaders of various political parties, government officials and the enthusiastic Kochi crowd. LuLu group managing director Yusuff Ali MA welcomed the gathering and Executive Director Ashraf Ali MA rendered the vote of thanks.

After the inauguration, Oommen Chandy, VS Achuthanandan, Shaikh Abdulla Al Saleh, Vayalar Ravi, Prof. KV Thomas and other dignitaries toured various sections of the newly-built mall and congratulated the group Managing Director Yusuff Ali MA on the successful completion of the mall.

LuLu Mall is a 2.5 million (25 lakhs) sq. ft complex in 17 acres and spread over three levels. The mall is complete with a full line of amenities and facilities which include the best of international brands of luxury and life style, a well-appointed food court that serves international cuisines, coffee shops, money exchange, dine-in outlets, a 22,000 sq. ft entertainment zone, a 5,000 sq. ft Ice Rink that’s the first of its kind in South India, prayer halls, and baby care centre among other facilities.

The shopping mall which was built on an investment of INR 1,600 Crore is expected to become the most sought-after family shopping destination of residents and tourists. The mall designed by WS Atkins, UK based consultants, has a parking capacity for 3000 cars with easy access from all the main roads. Well placed escalators, elevators, travelators and walkways make it easy for shoppers, diners, and fun lovers to get from one point of the mall to another.

Located at Edapally, Kochi at the intersection of three important highways of Kerala: NH 47, NH 17 and the Kochi by-pass; the mall is within easy reach from almost all landmarks and prominent facilities such as health centers and accommodation options. Further, almost all transport facilities are close by, including the

Cochin International Airport and railway station. Also within the mall’s expansive campus is The Marriott - a magnificent 300-room hotel that caters to the accommodation needs of visitors and tourists in God’s own country.

The mall will feature the widest choice of world-class brands at the fairest prices. A special area has been allocated to promote Kerala products and handicrafts. The mall will generate 8000 direct jobs and more than 20,000 indirect job opportunities. LuLu's winning formula of value for money quality shopping will be a matter of delight for the residents of Kochi.

LuLu Hypermarket, LuLu Celebrate, LuLu Connect, Westside, PVR Cinemas are the anchor stores of the mall. Nine cinema screens with a total capacity of 2,250 seats will be opened in the mall by early April. Inside the mall, there is a food court with a capacity for 3500 people and 18 food counters.

The first Mac Donald Restaurant in Kerala has also been opened at LuLu Mall. The mall has a 5-D cinema hall, bowling alleys, water rides and electronic games. The other facilities include ATM, money exchange counters, pharmacy, travel and holiday desk and a Federal Bank branch.

LuLu International Shopping Mall is India's largest shopping mall in Gross Leasable Area[5][6][7][8][9] and second-largest shopping mall in Gross Floor Area.[10] It is located in the Edapally neighbourhood of Kochi in Kerala. It is built on an area of 17 acres, with thegross floor area of the mall alone at 2,500,000 square feet (230,000 m2). A premium five-star, 20-storey, 300 room hotel managed by JW Marriott Hotels is located adjacent to it, within the mall compound.

Opened on 10 March 2013, the mall consists of more than 300 outlets including food courts, restaurants, family entertainment zones, a nine-screenmultiplex, South India's largest ice skating rink and a 12 lane bowling alley.[2][11][12][13]The estimated cost for this project is more than INR 1600 crore.[14] The mall is run, managed and set up by the EMKE Group, a business group with interests in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The EMKE Group's Managing Director is M. A. Yousuf Ali, who is an NRI from Kerala, based in the UAE.

The mall is located in Edappally Junction, a prime location at the meeting point of three major highways - NH 47, NH 17, and the Kochi Bypass. It is expected to be a landmark for the state of Kerala. The opening of the mall has caused a major traffic bottleneck in the area and the NHAI along with the civic body is planning to construct a flyover above NH 47 and NH 17.

They are temporarily using the government-owned land available on either side of the road to enable motorists a free left turn.[15][16][17] The LuLu Group has built its own self-contained city in the surrounding areas of the mall. In recent years, the mall management gradually procured the needed land.

The Lulu Mall, which opened earlier this week in Kochi, is a shopper's delight. Spanning a little over 2.5 million sq ft and built at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore, it can accommodate nearly 300 national and international brands.

The man behind what is billed as the largest mall in India, MA Yusuffali, the promoter of Abu Dhabi-based retail powerhouse EMKE Group, is a Malayali. That still doesn't explain why he would open a mall and a giant one at that in Kerala.

Location :

Space for All

But the current surge in consumption is mainly due to economic growth at a faster clip. The state economy has been growing at 7.5-8% in the past five years. Growth actually surged to 9.5% in 2011-12 compared with the national average of 6.5%. This has created jobs. Though Kerala still has one of the highest unemployment rates in India, job creation has accelerated in sectors such as IT, ITeS and telecom.