NEWS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

Work has re-started on the huge new shopping centre planned for the Orihuela Costa. Zenia Boulevard is being marketed as a shopping village to rival Nueva Condemina in Murcia. The 80,000 square feet complex will house 150 shops, bars and restaurants, a gym and have parking for 4,500 vehicles. The plans show an open, plesant space with fountains and palm trees. There will be terraces where people can meet friends or rest their feet in between shopping, kiosks and children´s rides.
The main anchor store will be Al Campo hypermarket, which will occupy 14,000 square metres and sell food, drinks, homeware, leisure and electrical goods. Other key stores include sports giant Decathlon and DIY chain Leroy Merlin. Of course, with the centre not due to open until 2012, many of the shops and facilities are still to be agreed, but well known high street stores and brands such as Zara, Marypaz, Disiguel, Massimo Dutti, Mango, Bershka, Blanco are expected to be present. Rumours of a cinema, bowling alley, Primark and Ikea have also been abound, but these have yet to be officially listed and may well just be wishful thinking on the part of local shoppers.