Grand Indonesia Shopping Town
Grand Indonesia is a mixed-use complex located on the side of the prominent Selamat Datang Monument, fronting Jakarta's famed traffic circle, Bundaran HI. Its shopping centre named Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, is the largest upscale shopping centre in Southeast Asia with 250,000 sq m of high end retail space, larger than Thailand's Siam Paragon.
History
The site of the current Grand Indonesia is previously occupied by Hotel Indonesia and Hotel Inna Wisata. Hotel Indonesia is the first five star hotel in the archipelago, being the most sophisticated hotel at the time. The development of the building was initiated by the first Indonesian president, Soekarno, which is also an architect. Hotel Inna Wisata is built in 1970s as a midclass accomodation, located behind Hotel Indonesia. All of the buildings in the complex are torn down in 2004 except the original building of Hotel Indonesia to make way for Grand Indonesia.
Location
Grand Indonesia which occupies 7 hectares of land is located strategically in the heart of Jakarta's business and largest traffic circle. Directly across Grand Indonesia is Plaza Indonesia, the first upscale shopping centre in Indonesia and the five star Mandarin Oriental hotel. Nearby is the Japanese Nikko Hotel, the Japanese Embassy and Jakarta's latest entertainment centre, Plaza Indonesia Entertainment Xentre.
Transportation
Fronting Grand Indonesia is the Busway Lane 1 Bundaran HI. The upcoming monorail station will also reachable by five minutes of walking.
The Complex
Grand Indonesia of Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, Kempinski Hotel Indonesia, Kempinski Residence, and Wisma [[BCA]. It is built on the site of former Hotel Indonesia and Hotel Inna Wisata. The US$242 million project is funded by a major cigarette company Djarum under 30-year BOT contract.
Grand Indonesia Shopping Town (GIST), is spread upon two buildings (Mall A and Mall B) and linked by an multi-level bridge. With over eight levels of shopping area, it is the first in Asia to use the special lighting effects usually used in the filming industry. An eleven screens cineplex, Blitz Megaplex have opened in March 2007 while Seibu, Japanese departement store is scheduled to open in 9 May 2007 on Mall A. Grand Indonesia Shopping Town also hosts Chanel boutique, the first in Indonesia.
The operation and management of the mall is awarded to Jones Lang LaSalle while hotel and apartments is awarded to the Kempinski international hotel chain. BCA, the leading national bank, will occupy most of the office floors.
The whole complex is expected to be completely finished by early 2008, the mall being earlier in spring 2007.
External links
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