Giftland Mall promises to be ‘entertainment capital’

Apr 10, 2015 News

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The Giftland Mall is touted to become Guyana’s newest entertainment capital with the planned introduction of popular Caribbean and International features to local shores.

The Mall, which is located at Turkeyen, between the International Conference Centre and the Caricom Secretariat , has a comprehensive array of features designed to vault the company firmly onto the entertainment scene.
Speaking to the media in the outdoor dining area, Giftland’s President Roy Beepat stated that when the mall is open, the entertainment needs of everyone, whether patrons come with family or friends, high or low budget, will be fulfilled.
Beepat revealed that in addition to all-encompassing Wi-Fi service and 24-hour security featuring 75 security guards and traffic wardens and over 350 Closed Circuit TV cameras, the facility will feature an expansive food court with 16 different outlets, as well as a

560 ft. long strip devoted to four fine dining restaurants that will be offering Chinese, English, Indian and Italian cuisine.
There will also be a British pub with nine draft beers, from dark to light, as well as a Brazilian grill and an American sports bar and coffee shop offering the international experience to Guyanese.
According to Beepat, the strip when completed will offer similar nightlife experiences to the famous St. Lawrence Gap, Oistins strip in Barbados and the Rodney Bay in St. Lucia.
The media was given a chance to tour the unfinished food court. That section, when completed, will have a seating capacity of 500.
He mentioned that a 3,500-square foot video arcade/children’s restaurant, designed akin to Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurants in the U.S., is also slated to be launched. This will especially benefit families with young children.
“You don’t have to be worried, sitting in the restaurant, telling your kids to stay still, because kids don’t do that. They like to run around,” Beepat said, pointing out that the children’s restaurant will take care of that.
Beepat stated that the mall will also have Caribbean Cinemas, with 8 multiplex theatres, catering to the cinematic crowd, in addition to a supermarket, beauty salons, health and nutrition facilities, barber shops and jewellery stores.
The executive also announced the placement of four aquariums, each 20-ft. long and containing tropical fresh and saltwater fish and beautiful plants. For the athletically-inclined, bungee jumping, zip lines and rock climbing will also be present.
These activities, he said, will be conducted in the beginner, intermediary and advanced stages, in order to ensure that no one is left out of the experience.
Another initiative the mall will have is a 36-station sheltered bus terminal. According to the President, Giftland has already sought to bring the Minibus Association on board, with the intention that the station will become a hub for all minibuses servicing the Georgetown and East Coast routes.
Free shuttles will be provided from the bus terminal to the University of Guyana from 6:00 am to 12:00pm to cater for the 7,000-plus students and faculty members. The terminal will also have washroom facilities.
Beepat stated that in order to ensure that patrons get the best customer service experience, a quality assurance trainer will be employed fulltime on the second floor of the admin building. The training room, he said is 80 ft x 20 ft.
Beepat also revealed that popular local entertainers such as Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine and Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones are also on board with the mall, to provide live entertainment. He announced the proposed launch of a talent show from January to December, which will seek to bring hidden local talent to the fore.
The show, he said, would not only be inclusive of musicians, but artisans and craftsmen would also benefit.
The mall is scheduled to be open every day of the year except Christmas and Good Friday. The stores will be open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Mondays to Thursday; 9:00 am to 9:00 pm on Friday and Saturdays and 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Sundays.
Fast food and special services will be open until 10:00 pm.
Giftland Mall’s career fair is scheduled to be held today, tomorrow and Sunday.
Offering himself as an example, Beepat stated that he was willing to do back- breaking work such as turning spades, in order to put food on the table at one point.
He pointed out that even for prospective job seekers who have a degree behind their names but are unable to gain employment in their field, alternate jobs are still available that could be used for their personal advancement.
“There are 2,000 job opportunities here and Giftland is looking for people. So if you have the ability and the brains, you can find a place here.”
The launching of the Mall is slated for May 26th, Independence Day.

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