Resto St. Nicolas project
slated for Ashrafieh

A food cluster concept by Venture Group

Works have begun on ‘Resto St. Nicolas’, a food cluster concept that is expected to open in the second quarter of 2016 in Ashrafieh.

It is a joint venture between Venture Group, a hospitality concept development company owned by Marwan Ayoub and Rabih Saba, and businessman Emile Sabbagha.

The project occupies a land of 2,000 square meters, situated on Charles Malek Avenue in Achrafieh. According to Saba, the project is characterized by an existing old Beiruti house, that dates back to more than a century, and which has been well exposed through the design of Dagher & Hanna Architects. "It will undergo a full restoration and the rest of the project will be built around this main element while retaining coherent architectural spirit," Saba said. The total built-up area is around 6,000 m2. Investment in the project is around $6 million.

The project consists of a ground level, a rooftop and four basement floors for parking, which will be important, given the shortage of available parking in Ashrafieh.

Resto St. Nicolas will feature five restaurants, renowned in terms of brands and operators, located on the ground level with terraces in an urban garden set-up. “We anchored already three brands which are Roadster, Ahwak by Abdelwahab, and Lina's,” he said. The rooftop will feature a cafe with an indoor area and a terrace.

Venture Group, which is behind the bar concept of Uruguay Street, is also working on a 15-restaurant complex in Hazmieh and an 11-pub/bar and five-restaurant cluster in Dbayeh.