First Bahrain Unveils “El Mercado Janabiya”

Amin Al Arrayed, Chief Executive Officer of First Bahrain, stated, “We are very excited to reveal ‘El Mercado Janabiya’ as the brand for our new retail centre. We are working hard towards project completion and an opening in Spring 2016. We are actively discussing lease agreements with anchor tenants as we work towards delivering a quality mix of goods and services which will meet the needs of the local community.”

El Mercado Janabiya will be an open-air retail centre built on an elevated platform located on the outskirts of the Janabiya neighbourhood. With its landscaped courtyards, outdoor seating, and soothing water features, it aims to be the perfect spot for families and friends to relax, shop, and dine. Overlooking the beautiful garden will be a variety of restaurants, shops, and cafes offering a wide array of products and services. The market will be anchored by a major supermarket which will provide the full range of daily necessities. Additionally, the ground floor will feature a street-side cafe and a drive-thru restaurant while also accommodating 160 covered parking spaces for quick entry and exit.

“While the focus has been on securing the anchor tenants first, the leasing process will be expanded to begin signing leases with individual shops in early October,” stated Business Development Manager, Khalid Shaheen. He added, “El Mercado Janabiya has already received letters of interest from well-known brands and a wide variety of businesses.”

Built on an 86,000 square foot plot, the retail centre will offer 48,500 square feet of leasable area. In addition to the supermarket and three anchor restaurants, the centre will offer 23 retail units sized between 151 and 1,345 square feet each.

The development is located at the corner of Avenue 27 and Road 7151, just off the Sh. Isa Bin Salman Highway along the way to the Saudi causeway. Given its position adjacent to a cultural heritage site, the centre will be easily visible from the highway. The residents of Janabiya, Saar, and Budaiya will all have quick access to the first major retail centre in this area. The project is due to open to the public in 2016.