Altman: Limegrove Planning to be Major Lifestyle Centre for West Coast – The Broad Street Journal – August 10, 2010

If you've traveled through Holetown recently you will have seen the ongoing construction of the new Limegrove shopping and "lifestyle" centre.

Limegrove will feature several upscale retailers, some of who are setting up shop on the island for the first time, including Agent Provocateur, Armani Exchange, Audemars Piguet, Black Up, Calvin Klein, Bulgari, Cartier, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren.

The latter retailer is taking over its space this week, according to the newsletter, and "is ready to begin their internal shop fit out." Paul Altman, whose conceptualized Limegrove as a major retail and lifestyle centre next to Highway 1 at Holetown accompanied by a residential area further inland, and whose company Altman Real Estate is the lead investor in the project, told the Journal that the project was indeed on target for a "soft" opening in time for Christmas. "We are on target, but when I say it must be noted that the project has changed. It is bigger in scope." He said the building which would house the Priva Nightclub, two cinemas and other recreational venues, had been increased in size by 30%, "and we have reshaped it into a horseshoe layout, allowing us to create a third courtyard with a 40-ft. water wall. The outdoor water wall cascades down into a sunken pool, with wide steps providing access for people to go down into a food court, he said. There will also be a catwalk for fashion shows.

In order for Limegrove to fulfill its mandate of being a lifestyle centre, said Mr. Altman, an events company was be set up to coordinate and promote the many different activities expected to take place there. The property's three courtyards would feature events which reflect the Caribbean lifestyle, including music, film, art and fashion. "We want something to be on at Limegrove every day of the week," he said, adding that Limegrove would become a venue for the island’s emerging cultural industries.

In its most recent newsletter, Limegrove announced that the newly-formed Barbados Fashion Alliance, Inc. (BFAI) will be headquartered on-site. The organization, which aims to promote the work of designers, photographers, models and other fashion-related professions, is being headed by Patricia Blackman. According to Ms. Blackman, The BFAI’s goal is to increase Barbados' participation in the fashion industry.

"We intend to be a support network and an educational resource for designers at every level," she said, adding, "Our intent is to have a regional network across the other islands and to look for inspiration, education and practical business models at an international level. Being headquartered at the Caribbean's first Lifestyle Centre alongside some of the fashion world's ultimate brands, seems like a perfect match for the BFAI.”

By Patrick Hoyos