Allan Zeman, dubbed 'Mr Lan Kwai Fong', plans to transform the retail landscape in Guangzhou after beating off eight rivals to secure the management and leasing contract for the city's newest underground shopping mall.
Zeman's property development and investment company, Lan Kwai Fong Holdings, earlier this month won the contract to manage a 1.6 million square foot mall in Pearl River New City, a new core business centre.
The 1.3 kilometre-long underground mall will provide space on a single level for up to 500 shops and will be the biggest shopping precinct in the nation's third-biggest city. The mall will be ready for occupation and open for business next year.
'This will be my first investment in Guangzhou,' Zeman said, and given the scale of the mall he plans to divide the space into three zones in which to provide a unique and comprehensive retail experience for shoppers.
His company will begin leasing space once the interior design has been completed. 'Compared to Hong Kong, it is similar to Harbour City,' he said.
Zeman visualises Zone One providing an entertainment area similar to Lan Kwai Fong. It will also have a section devoted to selling electrical appliances resembling Akihabara in Tokyo, an area for children, and one for cinemas.
Zone Two would be designed to give a feel similar to London's Kensington High Street, Zeman said, offering upmarket department stores; while Zone Three would be like Paris' Place Vendome and offer luxury branded merchandise.