New dining and fashion zone in offing for Connaught Place

Delhi’s commercial centre Connaught Place will get its own model of CyberHub, a real estate major DLF's food destination in Gurgaon. This dining and fashion zone-The Colonnade- promoted by the Akoi Group, owner of the luxury hotel The Imperial, is slated to open in November with about 50,000 square feet of retail space.

While restaurant brands including Jamie's Pizzeria by Jamie Oliver, Cafe Delhi Heights, Mamagoto and Beer Cafe have already signed on, top end fashion retailers including Zara, Forever and Gap are also in talks to open stores at the Colonnade. Unlike CyberHub, the property will also club fashion lifestyle brands, too, said Manav Deep Singh, Director at the Colonnade.

He said the Colonnade is being developed in two tranches, starting with the food and beverage section, which will bring together casual and fine-dine options. The second phase will see high-end fashion retail brands come on board, he added. "We're confident of footfalls... we're choosing the brands carefully. These are all premium brands which naturally generate consumption pull," he said.

The Colonnade is located in B block of the bustling Connaught Place. B block is a high-cost property, with rentals at Rs 250-300 per square foot, according to property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle. In comparison, DLF Cyber-Hub commands rates of Rs 350 per sq. ft.