# THE V-MART (VILLAGE MARKET) FACELIFT & REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

BY EMBUKANE VINCENT LIBOSSO

TRINITYSTARFAMILY@GMAIL.COM

SHOPPING/ LIFESTYLE

“Dude, have you been to V-mart (the Village Market, Nairobi) of late?” my pal asked me the other day, “the fresh new look will blow you away!”

And true to his word, after significant renovations, the new-look Food Court is ready and it is safe to say that it is now the most talked about eating destination in Nairobi. The first phase of the redevelopment- an overhaul of the central Food court area- is nearing its completion.

The new look tastefully done Food Court now features new-tiles; Ferrari sails, new water features, new lighting, state-of-the-art sound system; infrared heaters, new furniture and a lounge atmosphere; better access and ramps for disabled customers, more plants and flowers among other state-of-the-art fittings.

“a number of high quality restaurants are coming to the Village Market,” says Managing Director, Hamed Ehsani, “and we found it necessary to ensure the food court rises to match these high standards.” To him, the renovations couldn’t have happened at a better time.

With V-Mart having clinched the 2011 Taste Awards for Best Food Court; it was an additional challenge for the shopping complex to do even better.

Indeed, the food court has remained vibrant with diners thronging the venue in massive numbers each day to experience the modernized setting with a plethora of international restaurants to choose from.

But the renovations doon’t just end at the food court. The second phase has also begun at the covered parking area. The intended improvements in this second phase include additional parking which has been an issue over the past years, an enhanced Nakumatt and new retail outlets above the current Nakumatt facility.

The Village Market is East Africa’s largest shopping and recreation complex with over 380,000 square feet of retail space, over 20 restaurants and the multi award winning Tribe Hotel. The one-of-a-kind open air shopping mall received a design award and ecognition by the International Council Of Shopping Centers, the authority on shopping malls globally.

Big things are coming to V-Mart. Watch this space!

WWW.VILLAGEMARKET-KENYA.COM

AT HOME WITH THE RICHARDSONS

By Embukane Vincent Libosso

TRINITYSTARFAMILY@GMAIL.COM

D

eep in  Thika town’s Bulleys Estate; I walk into the home of Dave and Katie Richardson. On entering, I am welcomed by a jovial Dave- a missionary from the U.S.A.

Katie is deep in slumber land after the previous day jetting in from Egypt where she had visited her sister; who also happens to be a missionary there.

Both Dave and Katie’s persona is undoubtedly reflected in their choice of décor and what is around their estate compound. Dave is busy building the rain-gutters to store more water harvested I the rainy season. Sam; who is also part of the family; is busy building a dresser; his first, for the younger boys, out of recycled wood.

Her lounge walls are dark red and some colour I can’t comprehend. Being a musical family- Dave’s Band guitar and other instruments lay on the lounge.

On one side are caged “love birds” that Dave got for Katie as presents. Their insatiable appetite for all things arty and African is evident with her wall art paintings. There is also an exquisite drum and an African instrument on the fire place.

The lounge is quite a show-piece  Their green recycled sofa-cases match the room’s colour  The kids are busy home-schooling at this time; even as Will; the youngest steals me for  a sec to draw on his drawing book.

Outside; with their hearts completely sold to Kenya; they have built an amazing barn and play area for the kids; to be just kids from once.

Dave cracks a joke; “my dogs are racists. They don’t like Africans!” even as the dogs continue to loudly bark at me.

Both Dave and Katie are budding photographers, but also recently, they began a pizza-delivery business in Thika; from the back of their kitchen; making it the first and one of its kind. It is slowly picking up!

For them; the best way to spend a weekend at home is entertaining close friends, neighbors and strangers alike, and sharing in love, their faith and love for God; the abandoned kids and Africa.

Check out their website: WWW.HHMV.ORG or email them: HHMVKENYAINFO@HHMV.ORG

Pictures courtesy of: Katie and Dave Richardson.