Leroy Merlin to open fourth Attica outlet

An abandonedbuilding near the center of Athens looks set to be turned into a mixed-use complex for commercial and office purposes in the coming months. The 35,000-square meter property was built by the Dakon company in the mid-2000s.

The property on Vassilissis Sofias Street, near the Ippokratio Hospital, was originally destined to become a cinema multiplex but was scuppered by a case brought to the Council of State, which the constitutional court ruled in favor of.

Today, almost 13 years on, the half-finished building is finally expected to be put to commercial use. As Constantinos Zarbis, executive director of Dakon, tells Kathimerini, a long-term lease agreement has been reached with the Greek franchise of French homeware company Leroy Merlin, run by Pavlos Fourlis.

“At the moment there is extensive reconstruction work taking place at the property in order to accommodate the store that will be created there,” he says.

This fourth Leroy Merlin outlet in Attica – and the closest the city center – is expected to open in March 2018. The agreement provides for the lease of 6,000 sq.m., while another 10,000 sq.m. in the building will be leased as office space.