Located in the heart of Essen, Germany, the first phase of the Limbecker Platz shopping centre opened its doors in March, providing over 100 retail and foodservice units in a three-storey covered mall. Phase 2 of the development, due for completion in autumn 2009, will see the number of stores doubled, and will take the GLA to over 70,000 sq m once fully open.
Anchored by the Karstadt department store, the centre will, on completion, provide the highest number of fashion outlets in a single shopping centre in Germany. But it is not just about fashion and retail. There is also a street market of foodservice retail offers, from fishmongers to bakeries, bratwurst to fruit sellers.
There is a small food court offer, but it is along the malls where the foodservice offers are at their best. Coffee plays a strong part in the mix and the German love of ice cream is catered for by Swirl's, Ben & Jerry's and German gourmet ice cream parlour offer, Tiziano.
Casual dining offers are less prevalent, given the lack of a leisure anchor, but Limbecker Platz has seen the most recent opening of the Thai Street Kitchen concept, Cha Chà. This is the brand's fourth German opening, with sister units in Hamburg and Düsseldorf, and follows the same design and fit out guidelines with an open theatre kitchen, communal bench seating and light and airy spaces.
I chose a fiery green chicken curry with lemongrass, Thai vegetables and bamboo, cooked in coconut milk and served with special rice, washed down with a Singha Thai beer. Both were excellent and refreshing and, at €10.60, excellent value for money. It took a short time to be greeted and the after sales service was average, but the quality of food made up for these glitches. The brand is slowly growing, but there is no reason why it cannot expand to the extent of its closest UK comparable, Wagamama.
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