What delayed the creation of a food hall in the Book Store

By George Lampiris

A step that paves both substantially and formally the way for the utilization of the gallery of Arsakeio Megaron, is considered the approval by the Central Council of Architecture of the Ministry of Environment, which concerns specific building interventions in the designated building. The creation of a space with food shops is imminent, which will function as a multipurpose space for the promotion of the Greek Mediterranean diet. The plan of Legendary Food, which has been leased, envisages the creation of the first food hall in Europe.

The investment, despite the fact that it was to start to be implemented within 2020, did not happen, because on the one hand the entry of Covid-19 disease into our lives, on the other hand were necessary legalization approvals and demolition by the Central Council of Architecture. Recently, KESA gave a positive opinion on the demolition of the “Orpheus” cinema and the construction of the commercial gallery, known as the Book Gallery, which connects the old gallery of Arsakeio with Pesmatzoglou Street.

Green for the implementation of static reinforcements and layouts on the ground floor of the building

KESA according to its report Capital.gr also gave its approval for the implementation of static reinforcements and internal arrangements in the ground floor areas of the property in order to protect, highlight and reopen the complex of ground floor stores. More specifically, it approved the maintenance and reinforcement works of the existing load-bearing structure, the works of internal arrangements and openings, the repair works of the building shell and the maintenance of the iron roofs, as well as the installation of glazing at the entrance to Stoa Orpheus.

Investors

We remind you that the company Legendary Food, headed by Aris Kefalogiannis, former shareholder and founder of the olive and olive oil industry, Gaea, the brand strategist, Petros Economidis, the former banker, Vangelis Kontzias and the participation of the shipping family Othonos from the Educational Company SA which manages both the building that houses the Council of State and the Arsakeia – Tositseia private schools.

The plan envisages the completion of the works within 2023. It was preceded in January 2018 by an international tender, in which Legendary Food prevailed with an annual rent of 1.2 million euros, while the agreement between the two parties was signed on July 22, 2019 and provides rent for 37 years.

The business plan and what it envisages

The business plan envisages the operation of a modern cultural and gastronomic shopping center that will be directly intertwined with the Greek and Mediterranean diet, while based on the initial budget the total investment is expected to move to about 10 million euros.

The multi-space promotion of the Greek Mediterranean Diet will have a total area of ​​11,000 sq.m., while it is estimated that 500 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs will be created.

The Legendary Food plan is divided into two phases. The first concerns the creation of a department store that will offer selected Greek products, thus giving access to the market for small producers of quality goods. In addition, the operation of restaurants and fast food restaurants is planned, which will express the international trend of “fine fast food”, gathering all Greek chefs in the Stoa, the establishment of a School of Greek cuisine. It is also planned to build an e-shop through which Greek products will be available worldwide.