While this global financial crisis could be spiraling its way up into anywhere, so is the impending completion of the new Palais Quartier in Frankfurt. The Grand Opening is supposed to take place sometime in February 2009 and I am sure it will be spectacular.

My trip to New York City – the city that never sleeps – is only three weeks away. We are meant to go there for some extensive shopping, but going there will require the release of more than one ton of carbon dioxide!

With this new shopping center being built, I wonder if shopping habits can’t be changed for the future. Instead of going to New York City, I should spend my money in Frankfurt instead!!! But the lure of exotic shopping places such as New York or Hong Kong will always draw visitors.

With this heightening in infra structure and increased shopping opportunities in Frankfurt, sales clerks might have to become even more multilingual, such as they are in Paris and London. Frankfurt will become more tempting for a two-day stopover for rich clientele and I would encourage shop owners to hire more linguistic staff. Will we get boutiques selling shoes for € 20,000 a pair like in London and Paris?

The outlay of the Palais Quartier is gigantic:

building area                   17.400 m2
total area                      226.000 m2
gross cubic space         982.300 m3

floor plan concept:

Thurn und Taxis Palais    11.000 m2
office                              47.650 m2
hotel                              22.000 m2
shopping passage          76.850 m2
underground garage        1.390 parking spaces

Shopping Mecca Billboard

(The billboard’s background changes daily…)