BEIRUT: Solidere organized on Thursday a media tour around the newly opened Beirut Souks project, which has been rebuilt in its same original location. The tour, which was intended to introduce the project to the media, introduced journalists to the the traditional souks which have been built with a contemporary new design, while keeping the site’s main landmarks intact. 

Solidere officials told The Daily Star earlier that the revenues are expected to rise next year once the souk opens. 

They added most of the shops in the souk have already been booked by prospective merchants and investors. 

Thursday’s preview coincided with the opening of the first few retail outlets, ahead of the project’s grand opening by the end of the year. 

The company said in a statement that the Beirut Souks form a modern commercial district that stands apart from all other contemporary commercial centers and malls. 

“The unique concept safeguarded the Souks’ historical street grid and brought back to life their historic names; some are covered Souks like Souk al-Tawileh, Souk al-Jamil and Souk Arwam while others are open air such as Souk Ayyas and Souk Sayyour. These souks, along with the Intabli and Ajami Squares and the Gold Souks constitute the southern area of the development, which features retail outlets from different categories, offices, and a variety of restaurants and coffee shops,” the statement said. 

The upcoming northern area will be delivered progressively over the next three years in two distinct phases, one consisting of a 14-cinema entertainment complex equipped with state of the art technologies, and the other consisting of a major department store with a landmark architecture. 

Officials say that the flagship project by Solidere aims at restoring Beirut’s pioneering stature on the regional and international scenes: a business hub and touristic and cultural destination that attracts businessmen, investors, tourists and shoppers from all over the region. 

“Besides being one of the most important commercial nodes locally and regionally, the project creates employment opportunities through the participation of a large number of Lebanese architecture, engineering and construction firms and other commercial institutions,” the statement said. 

The Beirut Souks area will be accessible to the public as of Friday October 2, 2009. – The Daily Star