Beirut Souks
Encyclopedia
The Beirut Souks is a major commercial district in Beirut Central District
. With over 200 shops and a department store, it is Beirut's largest shopping
area, as well as the most dense.
The souks have historically been at the commercial heart of Beirut
. The souks sustained irreparable damage during the Lebanese civil war and have been rebuilt by Solidere
according to the ancient Greek street grid, maintaining the landmarks and original street names.
while Souk al-Franj functioned as Lebanon’s biggest fruit, vegetable and flower market.
, Beirut
was the scene of fierce battles between warring factions; after a few months of fighting, the brief cease-fire in September 1975 allowed the business owners of Beirut's central district to evacuate their shops' assets before fighting resumed turning downtown Beirut, including its souks into a sniper patrolled no man's land
. In October 1975, fighting extended to the souks, gunmen blew up shops and set others on fire. The destruction of the souks affected Christian and Muslim merchants alike. The battle of the souks lasted for 2 and half months until December 1975 before extending to the residential area of Ras Beirut
During the spring of 1983, the Antoun Bey Khan, a historic caravanserail and a landmark of the souks was demolished to clear the view towards the sea.
was commissioned by the Lebanese Council for Development and Reconstruction
to prepare a master-plan for the rebuilding of the dilapidated central district. Henri Eddeh, a senior architect planner at Dar al-Handasah proposed a complete demolition of the historical city center which was to be replaced by modern buildings and infrastructure.
The notion of bulldozing the entire cityscape stirred a heated polemic within the intellectual circles and widespread opposition to the master-plan led to the adoption of an alternate strategy aiming at preserving and renovating what could be salvaged of Beirut's historic buildings. The new master-plan drawn by Lebanese architect Jad Tabet was approved by the Lebanese parliament
and its implementation started in September 1994; a private share-holding company (Solidere
) was created by the Lebanese government
to manage the entire process of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Beirut's central district
. The souks were not among the preserved historic landmarks as its medieval buildings were too damaged to be saved. The razing of the souks left a gap in Beirut's identity, Solidere sought to bring back the souks historic commercial function at the heart of Beirut and appeal to the mercantile community that had fled to the periphery during the 16 year civil war. Solidere launched an international design competition to rebuild the souks while in keeping with the original Hellenistic street grid that
characterized the old souks and the area's historical landmarks. The contest was won by José Rafael Moneo Vallés
who designed the southern souk and British
architect
Kevin Dash who designed the Gold souks. The construction of the souks were entrusted to Lebanese firm Hourie. The master plan for the Beirut Souks was approved by ministerial decrees which preceded the launch of the reconstruction project. Costs of reconstruction were estimated at about 100 million dollars and work duration between 18 months and 2 years. The souks was set to open in 2000 but inauguration was postponed due to licensing delays related to political issues; meanwhile the construction of the underground parking was underway. In 2004 Solidere received the license and work on the souks began to be withheld in the aftermath of summer of 2006 war and the subsequent political instability
.
. Visitors on the opening day wandered through the few opened shops while construction works were still underway.
, they are delimited by Mir Majid Arslan
Avenue to the North, Rue Weygand
street to the south, Patriarch Howayek
to the west and Allenby
street to the east.
s and arcades
with 49 of these shops located in the Gold Souks. The new souks have reatained their Hellenistic street grid layout as well as their historical names; these are: Souk al Tawila (the long souk), Souk Arwam, Souk Jamil, Souk Ayyass, Souk Sayyour, Souk Bustros and Souk Arwad.
's plan preserved the heritage left by the different civilizations marking the Beirut Souks' historic location from the Phoenician era until the French mandate. The archeological findings recovered in the Souks _which have been restored_ include the ancient Phoenicia
n commercial quarter, the Medieval moat
, the Mameluk Koranic madrassa
of Ibn Iraq Al Dimashqi and the Byzantine
mosaics excavated on site.
Beirut Central District
The Beirut Central District or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a...
. With over 200 shops and a department store, it is Beirut's largest shopping
Shopping
Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
area, as well as the most dense.
The souks have historically been at the commercial heart of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. The souks sustained irreparable damage during the Lebanese civil war and have been rebuilt by Solidere
Solidere
Solidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the country’s devastating civil war...
according to the ancient Greek street grid, maintaining the landmarks and original street names.
History
Souq al-Tawileh and Souq al-Jamil where a favorite shopping destination before the civil war and were frequented by Lebanese and Europeans alike since they housed fashionable boutiques and haute-couture houses,while Souk al-Franj functioned as Lebanon’s biggest fruit, vegetable and flower market.
Destruction
During the Lebanese civil warLebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
, Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
was the scene of fierce battles between warring factions; after a few months of fighting, the brief cease-fire in September 1975 allowed the business owners of Beirut's central district to evacuate their shops' assets before fighting resumed turning downtown Beirut, including its souks into a sniper patrolled no man's land
No man's land
No man's land is a term for land that is unoccupied or is under dispute between parties that leave it unoccupied due to fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dumping ground for refuse between fiefdoms...
. In October 1975, fighting extended to the souks, gunmen blew up shops and set others on fire. The destruction of the souks affected Christian and Muslim merchants alike. The battle of the souks lasted for 2 and half months until December 1975 before extending to the residential area of Ras Beirut
During the spring of 1983, the Antoun Bey Khan, a historic caravanserail and a landmark of the souks was demolished to clear the view towards the sea.
Reconstruction
Reconstruction of Beirut's central district began as soon as the guns fell silent in 1991. Dar Al-HandasahDar Al-Handasah
Dar Al-Handasah is an international leading project design, management and supervision consultancy and founding member of the Dar Group. It is a multidisciplinary consulting organization for engineering, architecture, planning, environment, project management, and economics...
was commissioned by the Lebanese Council for Development and Reconstruction
Lebanese Council for Development and Reconstruction
The Council for Development and Reconstruction is a Lebanese governmental organisation that was established after the Lebanese civil war in order to rebuild the damaged infrastructure of the country. Find more information at ....
to prepare a master-plan for the rebuilding of the dilapidated central district. Henri Eddeh, a senior architect planner at Dar al-Handasah proposed a complete demolition of the historical city center which was to be replaced by modern buildings and infrastructure.
The notion of bulldozing the entire cityscape stirred a heated polemic within the intellectual circles and widespread opposition to the master-plan led to the adoption of an alternate strategy aiming at preserving and renovating what could be salvaged of Beirut's historic buildings. The new master-plan drawn by Lebanese architect Jad Tabet was approved by the Lebanese parliament
Parliament of Lebanon
The Parliament of Lebanon is the national parliament of Lebanon. There are 128 members elected to a four-year terms in multi-member constituencies, apportioned among Lebanon's diverse Christian and Muslim denominations. Lebanon has universal adult suffrage...
and its implementation started in September 1994; a private share-holding company (Solidere
Solidere
Solidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the country’s devastating civil war...
) was created by the Lebanese government
Politics of Lebanon
Lebanon is a parliamentary republic within the overall framework of confessionalism, a form of consociationalism in which the highest offices are proportionately reserved for representatives from certain religious communities. The constitution grants the people the right to change their government...
to manage the entire process of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Beirut's central district
Beirut Central District
The Beirut Central District or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a...
. The souks were not among the preserved historic landmarks as its medieval buildings were too damaged to be saved. The razing of the souks left a gap in Beirut's identity, Solidere sought to bring back the souks historic commercial function at the heart of Beirut and appeal to the mercantile community that had fled to the periphery during the 16 year civil war. Solidere launched an international design competition to rebuild the souks while in keeping with the original Hellenistic street grid that
characterized the old souks and the area's historical landmarks. The contest was won by José Rafael Moneo Vallés
Rafael Moneo
José Rafael Moneo Vallés is a Spanish architect. He was born in Tudela, Spain, and won the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1996. He studied at the ETSAM, Technical University of Madrid from which he received his architectural degree in 1961. From 1958 to 1961 he worked in the office in Madrid...
who designed the southern souk and British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Kevin Dash who designed the Gold souks. The construction of the souks were entrusted to Lebanese firm Hourie. The master plan for the Beirut Souks was approved by ministerial decrees which preceded the launch of the reconstruction project. Costs of reconstruction were estimated at about 100 million dollars and work duration between 18 months and 2 years. The souks was set to open in 2000 but inauguration was postponed due to licensing delays related to political issues; meanwhile the construction of the underground parking was underway. In 2004 Solidere received the license and work on the souks began to be withheld in the aftermath of summer of 2006 war and the subsequent political instability
2008 conflict in Lebanon
The 2008 conflict in Lebanon began on May 7, after Lebanon's 17-month long political crisis spiraled out of control. The fighting was sparked by a government move to shut down Hezbollah's telecommunication network and remove Beirut Airport's security chief Wafic Shkeir over alleged ties to Hezbollah...
.
Opening
The Beirut Souks were opened to the public on October 2 2009 after a 10 years delay due to political instability. The Gold Souks' opening was also delayed due to financial disagreement between the syndicate of Expert Goldsmiths and Jewelers in Lebanon and SolidereSolidere
Solidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the country’s devastating civil war...
. Visitors on the opening day wandered through the few opened shops while construction works were still underway.
Location
The Beirut Souks are located in Beirut Central DistrictBeirut Central District
The Beirut Central District or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a...
, they are delimited by Mir Majid Arslan
L'Emir Magid Arslan
Emir Majid Toufic Arslan was a Lebanese Druze leader and head of one of the two traditional feudal Druze ruling families, the Arslans against the rival family, the Jumblatts. Emir Majid Arslan was the leader of the Yazbaki faction...
Avenue to the North, Rue Weygand
Rue Weygand
Rue Weygand is a street in Beirut's Central Business District. Originally, the street was named Rue Nouvelle as it was a new thoroughfare constructed as part of a modernization plan in 1915...
street to the south, Patriarch Howayek
Elias Peter Hoayek
Elias Peter Hoayek , was Patriarch of Antioch for the Maronites, the largest Christian community in the Middle East from 1898 to 1931 when he died....
to the west and Allenby
Edmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby
Field Marshal Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby GCB, GCMG, GCVO was a British soldier and administrator most famous for his role during the First World War, in which he led the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the conquest of Palestine and Syria in 1917 and 1918.Allenby, nicknamed...
street to the east.
Architecture and description
The new souks are a low rise complex of two components: the south souks and the north souks. The souks were designed in five different commissions by international and Lebanese architects. They offer 163010 square metres (1,754,625 sq ft) of floor space and 17307 square metres (186,291 sq ft) of pedestrian areas that follow the ancient Greek street grid.South souks
The South souks were designed by Rafael Moneo in collaboration with Samir Khairallah while the Gold souks were designed by Kevin Dash and his Lebanese counterpart Rafic Khoury. The souks were designed as interconnected open spaces with many access points; they are 200 shops located along long vaulted shopping alleyAlley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
s and arcades
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
with 49 of these shops located in the Gold Souks. The new souks have reatained their Hellenistic street grid layout as well as their historical names; these are: Souk al Tawila (the long souk), Souk Arwam, Souk Jamil, Souk Ayyass, Souk Sayyour, Souk Bustros and Souk Arwad.
Conservation
SolidereSolidere
Solidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the country’s devastating civil war...
's plan preserved the heritage left by the different civilizations marking the Beirut Souks' historic location from the Phoenician era until the French mandate. The archeological findings recovered in the Souks _which have been restored_ include the ancient Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
n commercial quarter, the Medieval moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
, the Mameluk Koranic madrassa
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
of Ibn Iraq Al Dimashqi and the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
mosaics excavated on site.
Shops
Beirut Souks has over 200 shops including:- Accessorize
- AdidasAdidasAdidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
- AldoAldo GroupeThe ALDO Group is a Canadian corporation that owns and operates a worldwide chain of shoe and accessory stores. The company was founded by Aldo Bensadoun in Montreal, Quebec, in 1972 where its corporate headquarters remain today...
- Anne KleinAnne KleinAnne Klein was an American fashion designer who founded her own women's sportswear and apparel label.-Biography:Anne Klein was born as Hannah Golofski in a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York on August 3, 1923...
- Armani
- AïzoneAïshtiAïshti is a Lebanese luxury and stylish department chain store which features fashion and clothing from top designers.Opened by Tony Salamé in 1989, Aïshti has grown from a single high-end clothing store into a globally recognized chain that carries renowned luxury brands...
- Axara (Women's clothing)
- BershkaBershkaBershka is a company belonging to the Spanish Inditex group , that was created in April 1998 as a new store and fashion concept, aimed at a young target market. It now has 734 stores in 49 countries....
- Body ShopBody shopBody shopping is the practice of consultancy firms recruiting information technology workers in order to contract their services out on short-term bases...
- Bottega VenetaBottega VenetaBottega Veneta is an Italian luxury goods house best known for its leather goods. Founded in 1966, it was purchased in 2001 by Gucci Group, now a part of the French multinational group PPR. Bottega Veneta is headquartered in Vicenza, in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy.- History :Bottega...
- BurberryBurberryBurberry Group plc is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fragrance, and fashion accessories. Its distinctive tartan pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks. Burberry is most famous for its iconic trench coat, which was invented by founder Thomas Burberry...
- Calvin KleinCalvin KleinCalvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....
- CamperCamper (company)Camper is an international shoe company based in Spain. Lorenzo Fluxa founded the company in 1975 after inheriting a shoe factory from his father, Antonio Fluxa, a Spanish shoemaker. Camper operates 52 company-owned stores around North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, as well as distributing...
- C&F
- Carolina HerreraCarolina Herrera (fashion designer)Carolina Herrera Carolina Herrera Carolina Herrera (born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño (born January 8, 1939) is a Venezuelan and naturalized American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded her eponymous company in 1980.-Early life:...
- ChloéChloéChloé is a French fashion house founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion. Its headquarters is in Paris.-History:Gaby Aghion was born in Alexandria, Egypt in the year 1921...
- Christian LouboutinChristian LouboutinChristian Louboutin is a French footwear designer whose father is cabinetmaker Roger Louboutin and homemaker mother Irene. His siblings include three sisters, no brothers. Landscape architect Louis Benech has been his partner since 1997. Louboutin launched his line of high-end women's shoes in...
- Claire'sClaire'sClaire's is a retailer of accessories and jewelry to girls and young women. Claire's has over 3,000 locations worldwide: their stores are in 95% of all U.S. shopping malls, and in 33 countries...
- Coco and Cassia restaurant
- Cole HaanCole HaanCole Haan is a fashion label that was founded in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in 1928.The name comes from founders Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan. Originally Cole Haan was a men's footwear label...
- Converse
- CortefielCortefielGrupo Cortefiel is the second largest apparel retailer in Spain through Cortefiel , Springfield and Women's Secret . The Iberian Peninsula accounts for more than 85% of the revenues of the group...
- DamianiDamiani (jewelry company)Damiani is an Italian jewelry company founded in 1924 by Enrico Grassi Damiani in Valenza, Italy. Strongly influenced by the beauty of Art Deco styles, Enrico designed and produced fine jewelry which quickly became renowned...
- D&G
- Especialistaen Habanos
- From the Tree
- Furla
- GeoxGeoxGeox is an Italian brand of shoe and apparel manufactured utilising waterproof/breathable fabrics.-Corporate history:The company was founded in 1995 by Mario Moretti Polegato. The brand name, Geox, was created from a mixture between the Greek word “geo” , and “x”, a letter-element symbolizing...
- Häagen-DazsHäagen-DazsHäagen-Dazs is a brand of ice cream, established by Jewish-Polish immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus in the Bronx, New York, in 1961. Starting with only three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and coffee, the company opened its first retail store in Brooklyn, New York, on November 15, 1976...
- H&MH&MH & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
- HermèsHermèsHermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837, today specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear...
- Kathy Van Zeeland
- I Heart (women's clothing)
- La cave de Joël RobuchonJoël RobuchonJoël Robuchon is a French chef and restaurateur. He was titled "Chef of the Century" by the guide Gault Millau in 1989 and also awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France in cuisine in 1976...
- Linea Max
- Louis VuittonLouis VuittonLouis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
- M.A.CMake-up Art CosmeticsMake-up Art Cosmetics, better known as M·A·C or MAC Cosmetics, is a manufacturer of cosmetics founded in Toronto, Canada and headquartered in New York City, New York.-History:...
- Magnet Cafe
- Maje (women's clothing)
- MangoMango (clothing)Mango, stylized MANGO, is a clothing design and manufacturing company. Isak Andic is the president.Its goal is "to be present in every city" in the world...
- Mango accessoriesMango (clothing)Mango, stylized MANGO, is a clothing design and manufacturing company. Isak Andic is the president.Its goal is "to be present in every city" in the world...
- MexxMexxMexx is an international fashion company that designs clothes and accessories for men, women and children. Mexx creates fashion that is inspired by the energy, style and trends of life in the big city. The Mexx’ metropolitan casual look is smart, classy and self confident.Every piece of Mexx...
- Massimo DuttiMassimo DuttiMassimo Dutti is a company belonging to the Spanish Inditex group dedicated to the manufacturing of clothing. It was created in 1985 and its product range was limited to men's clothing....
- Minelli
- Motivi
- NikeNike, Inc.Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
- Nine WestNine WestNine West is a fashion wholesale and retail company best known for quickly translating runway trends into styles attainable by mass consumers. Initially founded as a fashion footwear brand, Nine West has since expanded into handbags, sunglasses, legwear, outerwear, jewelry, belts, watches, cold...
- Nomination Italy
- L'Occitane en Provence
- Optik Studio
- Original Marines
- Outdoors (sport)
- PatchiPatchiPatchi is a chocolate brand from Lebanon. It was established by Nizar in 1974. The company has more than 140 outlets in 35 countries. The chocolates are a blend of Swiss and Belgian style chocolates. The Patchi menu has over 40 varieties of chocolate with recipes mixing Almonds, Pistachios,...
- Porsche DesignPorsche Design GroupPorsche Design Group , based in Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany, was founded in November 2003 by as a majority-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG to combine Porsche AG's and Porsche Design Group’s accessories and licensing business into one single company.Originally, there were five independently...
- Promod
- Pull and BearPull and BearPull and Bear is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Narón, Galicia and founded in 1991. In September 2011, the company will sell through an online store. -Concept & Style:...
- QuiksilverQuiksilverQuiksilver, Inc. , is an American company based in Huntington Beach, California, one of the world's largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment...
- ReebokReebokReebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
- Rodeo DriveRodeo DriveRodeo Drive of Beverly Hills, California is a shopping district known for designer label and haute couture fashion. The name generally refers to a three-block long stretch of boutiques and shops but the street stretches further north and south....
- Room One (women's clothing)
- Roxy
- SamsungSamsungThe Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
- Silver
- Sinequanone
- Socks
- Shoe Avenue
- Sony WorldSony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
- Stella McCartneyStella McCartneyStella Nina McCartney is an English fashion designer. She is the daughter of former Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney and the late photographer and animal rights activist, Linda McCartney.-Early life:...
- StradivariusStradivariusThe name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
- Sunglass HutSunglass Hut InternationalSunglass Hut is an international retailer of sunglasses and sunglass accessories founded in Miami, Florida in 1971. Sunglass Hut is part of the Italian-based Luxottica Group, the world’s largest eyewear company. As of December 31 2008, the Luxottica Group operated 2,286 stores worldwide, most of...
- The Met Eatery
- TimberlandThe Timberland CompanyThe Timberland Company is an American manufacturer and retailer of outdoors wear with a focus on footwear. Its three key locations are in Stratham, New Hampshire; Danville, Kentucky; and Ontario, California....
- Tommy HilfigerTommy HilfigerThomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...
- Toy Watch
- UterqüeUterqüeUterqüe is a company belonging to the Spanish Inditex group , that was created in September 2007 as a new store and fashion concept. The name is Latin and can be translated as "one of each" or "both this and that"...
- Vera WangVera WangVera Ellen Wang is a Chinese American fashion designer based in New York City and former figure skater. She is known for her wide clientele of couture bridesmaid gowns and wedding gown collections.-Personal life:...
- Vero Moda
- Yves Saint LaurentYves Saint Laurent (brand)Yves Saint Laurent or YSL is a luxury fashion house founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. Today, its chief designer is Stefano Pilati. Yves Saint Laurent, founder of the brand, died in 2008.-History:...
- ZaraZara (clothing)Zara is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Arteixo, Galicia, and founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera. It is the flagship chain store of the Inditex group; the fashion group also owns brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Oysho, Uterqüe, Stradivarius and...
Awards
The Beirut Souks received in 2009 the Capital Issues Award under the category of Architectural excellence. The award was collected on behalf of Solidere by Angus Gavin on December 22 2009.See Also
- Avenue des FrançaisAvenue des FrançaisAvenue des Français was a wide, palm-lined, seaside street in Beirut, Lebanonand now part of the pedestrian promenade, The Shoreline Walk.-History:...
- Beirut Central DistrictBeirut Central DistrictThe Beirut Central District or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a...
- Rue WeygandRue WeygandRue Weygand is a street in Beirut's Central Business District. Originally, the street was named Rue Nouvelle as it was a new thoroughfare constructed as part of a modernization plan in 1915...
- Rue MaaradRue MaaradRue Maarad is a main street in the Beirut Central District, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of Lebanon". Severely damaged in the Lebanese Civil War, the street underwent a thorough reconstruction and development plan by the Lebanese real estate giant Solidere...
- SolidereSolidereSolidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the country’s devastating civil war...