Believe me or not, the discussion on this topic started at approximately 730am yesterday (Sunday), while a friend and myself were swimming at some 100m from the shore of Pereybere beach.
With the growing number of shopping malls, Mauritians have a much wider choice when they need to find a place to eat. While several world famous restaurants have now their own branch(es) in Mauritius, more importance is being given to food courts within shopping malls.
Months earlier, the Shoprite food court or that of Phoenix commercial centre were practically overcrowded most of the time. But ever since the opening of Bagatelle, the rules of the game have changed. The one with the best food court and sets of restaurants win. Consequently, the crowds moved to the largest shopping mall of the island while Cascavelle Shopping Mall is trying to attract people going through the western part of the island.
Existing shopping malls had to review their strategy. For example, food courts at Shoprite and Phoenix went through renovation works. Same for the food court at Super U, Grand Bay. With the construction of the La Croisette Shopping mall, the competition is going to be really tough in Grand Bay. As for Phoenix Les Halles, it reached a Game Over state a long time back.
Some weeks back, I accidentally came across another shopping mall some kilometres away from Goodlands. At noon on a Saturday, the “VIP Village Shopping Mall” was empty, except the few sales person and the security guards.
Personally, I find Mauritians more interested in spending some time with the family, around some nice food. Walking endlessly around the shopping malls and window shopping form part of the recreational activity and at the end of the day, the food matters the most.
What do you think?
Yashvinblogs 
C vrai, in fact today, lunch and dinners has become a nice way to spend time with friends and family. It becomes like a recreational spot for adults.
Enfin the only thing is that with so many malls and competition growing… Will the population of Mauritius gain anything from that? Let us see! 🙂
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what makes a shopping mall popular?
the food, proximity, the girls, good parking, and optionally the shops. oh, 3d theater is a plus too in the case of Bagatelle =)
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You’ve missed the Silver lining dude. A shopping mall without a decent Hyper in it got no chance to attract customers
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It is interesting to see how some of the very first malls have gone down in popularity following the opening of these new mega ones.The larger foodcourts with a variety of choice certainly attracts the families. Remains to be seen whether the expensive shops will survive.
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flacq pou ena lot mall…
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Absolutely Great…! I live @ Camp De Masque and it will be more accesible to me. Also winners will be there… Having debonaires and nandose there would be Myummy…!
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Shopping, Close to residential or offices, Food and Supermarket!
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Food.
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Shopping Malls are not my thing. I like “marchant ambulant” in Port Louis :3
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