if the number of cafes per sqm of the mall is something to go by, it can be said that UAE is such a country of coffee-holics! just imagine in our mall, with a mere 50,000 sq m of GLA (gross leasable space, almost the size of Shangrila Mall but 2 floors only), the mall already boasts of almost 20 cafes!!!! not to mention that each cafe covers almost 200-300 sq m each! really spoilt for choice! they may come a close second to the french in their flare for cafes...
we have starbucks, gloria jeans, costa, coffee bean & tea leaf, amore, etc. there' s even the Central Perk cafe of the famed 'Friends' sitcom, now going on 3 locations just after months of opening their first store in Jumeirah... i wonder when will our Figaro conquer this side of the globe? i'm so sure it will be a hit! the locals just love lounging around, killing time, watching people pass by... did they get this habit from the europeans? or they simply has so much time and money on hand!
this has certainly put the cafe industry on top slots for areas to invest on --- get a good location, put on a good ambiance, put in good and comfy couches, install tv, plug the coffee maker, and voila, you have the formula for success!!! with each cup costing like a McDo meal for a raw mat of water and beans, that's so much gross profit for you!
this could have been heaven for me, unfortunately, i don't drink coffee. i experience palpitations even with just a slightest dosage of caffein, so i always go for decaf or hot choco. too bad.
the locals go for turkish coffee. that concentrated coffee taken in small amount, where the cafeein boosts can easily be felt in a single sip! ironically, i do not hear many of these arabs going for the 'arabica' blend....
so if coffee is your thing, come here and be pampered!
