OREANDA-NEWS. April 1, 2010. LETO Shopping and Entertainment center is already more than 70% leased out. This was announced last Friday, the 26th of March, at the business breakfast which was organized by Sistema-Hals, Apsys Group and Jones Lang LaSalle at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow.

The business breakfast was aimed at updating existing tenants on the current status of the leasing and planning of LETO project in St. Petersburg. The event was attended by more than 200 retailers and representatives of the participants of the Project. Fabrice Bansay, General Director of Apsys Russia, and Teimuraz Shengelia, Vice-President - Head of Commercial Real Estate Division of Sistema-Hals, announced current project progress including the construction status, pointed their satisfaction with the partnership and emphasized the stable future of LETO shopping center. Ekaterina Zemskaya, Associate Director, Retail department of Jones Lang LaSalle presented current project status, leasing dynamics and last project changes. Anchor LETO tenants told about their positive experience of the cooperation with project team.

Fabrice Bansay, General Director of Apsys Russia said: "Synergy created by Apsys Group and Sistema-Hals combines European expertise in retail industry and excellent knowledge of Russian real estate development. Both of these factors will make of "LETO" a successful and professional retail product which is crucial today when tenants have strongly increased the requirements for choosing spaces for their stores".

Teimuraz Shengelia, Vice-President - Head of Commercial Real Estate Division of Sistema-Hals commented: "While developing such a project we were aiming at creating a high-quality shopping destination that fits all professional requirements. Special attention was paid to high standards of quality & innovative technologies. Today the project is in its final construction stage, we mantle the facade, work with internal engineering systems, already started the fit-out of common areas."

Maxim Karbasnikoff, European Director Russia and CIS, Head of Retail Department at Jones Lang LaSalle added: "It is no wonder that the leasing process is in such an advanced phase as the Project is being realized by a very professional and experienced team of specialists. The LETO shopping center is not comparable with any other existing shopping center in St Petersburg, it will be of the highest European level".

Thomas Kerner, Head of expansion department, Media Markt Saturn stressed: "We have chosen the shopping centre LETO as our partner because of its interesting and meticulously developed conception, well-chosen pool of leasers and possibility to open store with necessary for us area. New shopping centre is felicitously located in actively developing residential area - at the intersection of Pulkovskoe shosse and Ring Road. We are especially glad that our fifth store in the Northern capital of Russia will open in the shopping centre LETO".

On a retail space of 80,000 square meters the LETO shopping and entertainment center will house more than 200 shops of well-known international and federal brands which will offer a unique variety of goods and services. To date, among others lease agreements are already signed, by Auchan hypermarket of 11,600 sq m, Media Markt for electronics goods on 6,000 sq m, H&M of 1,700 sq m, Inditex (Zara, Pull and Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius) of 3,115 sqm, Top Shop, Top Man, Miss Selfridge, Lady&Gentleman, Reserved, New Yorker, Ann Christine, Mothercare, NEXT, Claire's, The Body Shop, Justice, Le Pain Quotidian, Motivi, Promod, L'Etoile and many others.

The complex will also offer a big food court with a various offer of restaurants, a huge entertainment area with cinema multiplex (10 halls) and an ice rink of 1000 sqm.

For the design idea of the mall, the English design company "virgile and stone" used the Franco-Russian connection, build on a mutual exchange of culture and commerce. These places represent the summer feeling of the French Riviera. For that the special design of the floor tiles - light and dark brown - will create a warm atmosphere. The imagination of Shadow and Sunlight which take turns through the mall.

In such an atmosphere it is pleasant to meet with friends, go shopping or relax in the special bars located in these places.

More than 3,200 parking spaces will secure a convenient access to the center.

The shopping and entertainment center is ideally located at the cross of Pulkovskoye shosse and the Ring Road which provides for easy transport access to the Center and has a high visibility.