Malik's, a top local bookshop, copy center, and stationary retailer, is expanding its local presence, through four new outlets.

The company opened earlier this month its largest outlet in Le Mall Sin El Fil, stretching over a space of 550 m2. The branch has a dedicated multimedia concept section called ‘GIZMO’. Malik’s had already launched this specialized division in Le Mall Dbayeh last year.

“We will be copying the GIZMO concept in all Malik’s large branches,” said Malek Barakat, founder and Managing Director of Malik’s. GIZMO might be launched as a standalone boutique at a later stage.

Malik’s will also open two new company-owned branches in Zouk and in Ashrafieh, by Q4 2014.

Barakat said that they have also signed a letter of intent with franchisees in Ajaltoun to launch a new branch there. “We have already one successful franchise in Tyre that we inaugurated last year, and Ajaltoun would be our second.” He said that Malik’s management decided to adopt franchising as the expansion strategy outside the Greater Beirut area.

“We are considering Mansourieh as a potential area for our franchise,” he said.

Malik’s started its operations in 1988. It has more than 20 branches, including standalone stores in Abraj, Antelias, Bliss Street, Verdun, Jbeil, and at LAU and NDU universities, supermarkets, and malls.