Liu Minxia

    mllmx@msn.com

    AFTER being delayed for more than a year, the opening of a community shopping center in Futian District’s Meilin area was met by huge crowds of people yesterday.

    Occupying an area of 70,000 square meters in the Xiameilin area, Hongwan Zoll is the third shopping project developed under the name of Zoll and by LVGEM (China) Real Estate Investment Co. The other two, both located in Longhua District, were smaller.

    “Our Zoll project is now on a fast-track for development,” said Gu Qi, general manager of LVGEM. “Another Zoll shopping center will open in the Hongshuwan area soon and more projects are expected to open in the following months in other major cities across the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta areas.”

    All the shops at Hongwan Zoll have been rented out and 95 percent of the shops are open for business, according to Gu.

    With nearly 100 brands, Hongwan Zoll is the second shopping center to open in the Meilin area within six months.

    “Most shopping malls nowadays target nearby communities as their major sources of customers,” said Hua Tao, executive director of Shenzhen Retail Business Association. “Malls are also remodeling themselves into recreation venues instead of just shopping.”

    The Zoll shopping center in the Hongshuwan area, the fourth Zoll project in Shenzhen, covers an area of 60,000 square meters and is expected to open this year.