TALLINN - The business part of Tallinn is about to get a new look as construction of the Viru Center, an extension to the Sokos Hotel Viru, nears completion.
Ants Vasar, managing director of Viru Keskus, itself created by SRV Kinnisvara, ELL Kinnisvara and Pontos OY - the three owners of the center - said the shopping center, the bus terminal and the parking building will open on April 15. The culture and leisure center along with the apartment building will be ready by autumn.
The luxury apartment integrated into the center will have 72 flats, but according to Vasar it is not yet clear whether they will be sold or leased.
Vasar said the company developing the center expected it to attract about 33,000 visitors per day and some 11 million per year.
Kristiine Keskus, one of the most popular shopping centers in Tallinn, receives about 20,000 visitors a day.
The four-level shopping center will be connected with Tallinna Kaubamaja, one of the oldest department stores in the city, and in the future could be linked to the Tallink Hotel currently being built across the road.
The Viru Center will have 70 shops, boutiques and eateries on 26,000 square meters of floor space. Additionally, several new retailers will enter the local market once the center opens.
Tallinna Kaubamaja CEO Raul Puusepp said the local consumers' expectations regarding shopping centers were continuing to rise.
"People want a convenient shopping environment, service and extra opportunities. A new tradition is shopping for fun," he said.
Tallinna Kaubamaja will move its cosmetics, women's and children's departments to the Viru Center and will rearrange the departments in its old building. The relocation process will cost nearly 6 million euros.
Construction of the 700 million kroon (44 million euro) center began in May 2002 and the city government paid 204 million kroons of that because the complex will include the most modern bus terminal in Estonia.
Tiit Siimon, deputy head of the transport and environment department of the Tallinn city government, said the 6,000-square-meter underground terminal will unite bus stops of 15 city bus routes in the area.
The bus terminal will have an isolated waiting hall for bus passengers equipped with an information screen.