'Galleria Ataköy', the first modern
shopping mall in
Turkey, is situated in the western suburb of
Ataköy,
İstanbul. It was built following the recommendation of then
Prime Minister Turgut Özal, who was inspired by the shopping mall
Houston Galleria in
Houston, Texas,
USA. Galleria Ataköy was opened in
1988 by Turgut Özal.
History
Galleria Ataköy reflected the changing face of Turkey in the late
1980s and became a symbol of modern life with the stores selling a wide range of goods, most of them imported, cafés and restaurants, which made going there a popular day out. At weekends in particular, people rushed to Galleria from all over the city. Due to its close distance to
Ataköy Yacht Marina and
Atatürk International Airport, Galleria was also very popular for tourists. For several years, Galleria was without any competitor, but it blazed a trail down as other shopping malls were opened in Istanbul.
Features
Galleria attracts with its 140 stores on two floors an average of 1.2 million visitors monthly. The complex housed
Printemps, the renowned
French department store, in the beginning. It hosts upscale Turkish stores, features fast food restaurants and cafeterias, entertainment centers, movie theaters, bowling alley and ice skating rink. The shopping mall has a covered car park for 2,000 vehicles.
In
1990, Galleria was awarded the world's most outstanding mall by the
International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for sophisticated blueprint design, rapid construction, and unique structural features.
'Address':
Sahilyolu, Ataköy - Bakırköy
Istanbul
References
★ From the Grand Bazaar to the modern shopping centers in Turkey. Turkish Council of Shopping Centers & Retailers (AMPD)
See also
★
List of shopping malls in Istanbul
External links
★
Official website
★
International Council of Shopping Centers