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January - March 2000 |
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| Two prestigious names have taken strategic positions on Weygand street, where the Municipality building is getting ready, while work across the street prepares for the landscaping by SOLIDERE of a garden on top pf the underground car park (above). At the corner of Riad El Solh street, in the Farès Farra building, the Bang & Olufsen showroom (bottom center) signals the return to the downtown area for Debbas & Fils, who started trading there in 1910. Roche-Bobois (bottom left) has opened a store in the new Atrium building, at the corner of Maarad street. High-tech products, sophisticated designs, modern display and decoration and attractive neon signs set the trend for the new, forward-looking city center. Within its promotional activity relating to third-party properties, SOLIDERE has secured the occupancy of the Rizkallah building on lot 170 Marfaa A, in the Foch-Allenby area. The agreement signed by the owners with Crédit Commercial de France involves a lease with option to buy. The bank, which will occupy all the building's upper floors, has assigned to SOLIDERE the tasks of subletting the retail space on street level, as well as operating and managing the entire property. As new tenants in Maarad street, Swissair and Sabena have joined other airline companies which have returned to the city center, such as Middle East Airlines, Misr Air and Tunis Air. The Italian Embassy has occupied its new premises in the Assicurazione Generali building in Nejmeh Square, while the Argentinian Embassy is taking premises in the Daouk building near Starco. The delegate of German Industry and Trade has taken a three-year lease in the Stephan building on lot 1199 Marfaa B, in Riad El Solh street. The regional office of Triumph International for Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and the Thompson Group administration office are also tenants in the building. The American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce has occupied offices in the Venice Center, on lot 1153 Marfaa A, in Foch street, along with Lotus Shipping; Targetel International, export an import company; Claude Messir, interior decorator; Georges Karaouni, lawyer and Abdo El Chaer, contracting company. Retail shops on street level include Vert et Ciel, florist; Colette, ladies wear; Ammache, perfumes; and the Golden Fork coffee shop. Among new BCD coffee shops are Café de l'Etoile, with a view of Nejmeh square; Café Supreme and a second branch of Mi-Chaud snack restaurant on Maarad street; Plat d'Or in the Asseily building on Riad El Solh Square; and Café du Souk in Riad El Solh Street |
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