Cevahir Mall
| Cevahir Shopping Centre | |
| Facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Address | Büyükdere Cad. No. 22 Şişli- Istanbul |
| Opening date | 15 October 2005 |
| Developer | Cevahirler Group |
| Management | Cevahirler Group |
| Owner | Cevahirler Group |
Cevahir Shopping Centre, opened on 15 October 2005, is a modern shopping and entertainment centre located in the Şişli district of Istanbul, Turkey. Called also Şişli Kültür ve Ticaret Merkezi (Şişli Cultural and Trade Centre). Cevahir Mall is the largest shopping centre in Europe, and the second largest in the world.1
Origins
The project, originally a trade complex including retail centers and three skyscrapers with 40 and 48 floors to replace one of the city’s old bus depots, was designed in 1987 by American architects Minoru Yamasaki & Associates. The foundation stone was laid in 1997; however, it took eight years to complete only the shopping centre section due to numerous delays and suspensions of construction. One of the other major architects who took part in the creation of this mall was Can Yavuzarslan, a Turkish/British dual citizen.
Structural specifications
Cevahir Shopping Centre has a total gross area of square metres ( sq ft) on six floors and cost US$250 million to build. There are 280 shops, some of which are the first in Turkey to sell certain international brands; 34 fast food restaurants and 14 exclusive restaurants in the shopping centre. Under its roof, there is a big stage for shows and other events, 12 cinemas including an IMAX 3D cinema. It has also a cinema for children, several other entertainment facilities, and a bowling hall. A small roller coaster is part of the entertainment area. The building's m² ( sq ft)-glass roof carries the biggest clock in the world, with three-metre (10 ft)-high digits.
The car park has a capacity of 2,500 cars. 5,000 service people are employed on the property. The shopping centre is situated in the business quarter on the European side of Istanbul between Şişli and Mecidiyeköy and also can be reached easily by Istanbul metro. Three floors of the shopping centre are connected directly to the metro line.
Ownership and operations
The shopping centre, co-owned and operated by Cevahirler Group, was opened to the public with a grand ceremony by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A crowd of 450,000 people visited the complex on that day. Recently, 190,000 visitors come to the shopping centre daily. It is open seven days a week from 10:00 to 22:00 hours (UTC+2).
Safety concerns / Recent controversy
The Cevahirler Group, owners and operators of the mall, came under strong criticism from the media when a 3-year old girl fell from the 4th-floor balcony. This was the second of two deaths within the same month, the first being a teenage boy. Mall management responded immediately by installing extra balcony handrails where necessary, but the issue remains controversial as the management didn't take precautions after the first death.
The mall has also come under scrutiny for allegedly being paid for by what is known in Turkey as "green capital", or Islamist-backed funding. St. Martin's, a Kuwaiti real estate investment firm operating out of London, took over the management of the mall in late 2006. Cevahir, in contrast to other malls in Istanbul, does not serve alcohol in its restaurants, and Migros, a supermarket chain with a large store in the mall's basement, originally did not sell alcohol. There is a mosque on the basement floor as well.
Anchors and other stores
Some of the international brands in the shopping centre are as follows: Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Jack&Jones, Vero Moda, Peacocks, Topshop, Top Man, Miss Selfridge, River Island, Benetton, Mothercare, Etam-123, Esprit, Massimo Dutti, La Senza, Zara, BSB, Adidas, Dockers, Levi's, Kappa, Fornarina, Reebok, Converse, Best Mountain, Lotto, Guess World, Guiseppo, Nine West, Bata, Divarese, Starbucks, Gloria Jean's, Burger King, McDonalds, KFC, and Pizza Hut. There are also many locally based stores and Turkish restaurants, offering local dishes such as milk-based desserts and kebabs.
Gallery
 Interior Panorama Of the Cevahir Shopping Centre |
 Cevahir Shopping Centre: The largest in Europe, seen here with its six floors |
See also
References
- Emporis Global Structure Listings Cevahir Istanbul
- Istanbul news
External links
Official Cevahir Mall website (Turkish)
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