GEORGE TOWN: The first phase of the RM450mil Gurney Paragon Mall will be ready by the end of this year.

Group executive chairman Datuk Khor Teng Tong said the 25 retail tenants in that phase would be Italiennes restaurant, Coffee Bean, Pacific Coffee, and TGIF.

The first phase has a net lettable area of 111,000sq ft. The second phase, comprising 599,000 sq ft, will have teants such as Hokkaido Ichiba Japanese restaurant, Urban Fresh supermarket, and TGV Cinemas Sdn Bhd.

“We are now negotiating with Valiram Group to bring in some of their fashion brand names for the second phase,” he said.

Khor said the group’s business model was to hold and manage this mall.

“We have experts from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to advise on the mall’s operations.

“The rental income stream from the mall in the future will enable the group to have a strong base of recurring income.

“This will transform the group from a property developer into a real estate landlord,” he added.

On the Gurney Paragon RM480mil condominium project, located within the same premise as the commercial segment, Khor said about 70% of the 220 condominium units had been sold.

“We have also obtained the certificate of fitness for the project,” he said.

Khor added that about RM10mil was in the process of being paid in the form of rebates to some 100 purchasers of the condominium scheme for late delivery.

The condominium project was scheduled for delivery in mid-2010.

It was delayed because of the caving in of an access road in July 2009.

Source: The Star