THE new Footsteps mega-store, the United Centre at Camp and Regent Streets, Georgetown, yesterday conducted for members of the media a tour geared at sensitizing the general public on the functions, products and services it has on offer. On hand was Footsteps’ Marketing Manager Michael Alleyne, who indicated that theirs was the first contemporary shopping centre to be built in Guyana. He added that the new multi-million-dollar structure is a culmination of five years of tireless commitment from conception to completion.

Alleyne noted that the new building, dubbed ‘United Centre’, sees amalgamation of the Essential Shopping Centre at Camp and Regent Streets, and Footsteps and Home and Beyond Stores at Camp and Charlotte Streets.

He said the vision proprietress Ms. Sabita Narine possessed when she undertook such a venture was to bring a ‘First World experience’ of affordable luxury to all Guyanese.

According to Alleyene, the project would not have been successful without the assistance of their financial partner, Citizens Bank, who embraced their vision and stuck with them throughout the process of bringing to realization what was conceptualized long ago.

He emphasized that the company’s name has always been synonymous with affordable items and luxury, adding that all Guyanese deserve affordable luxury, thus initiating the company’s decision to dedicate four floors to this theme.

Alleyne lauded the interior décor of the structure, which he said will certainly attract customers, coupled with the intense emphasis they have placed on customer service. While he could not place an actual cost figure to the construction of the building, he nevertheless noted that it exceeded $100M.

The company has also now added to its wide range of supplies household items that have increased both the volume and variety of their stocks. And staff membership has increased by some 45%, with the aim to ensure excellent customer service and relations.

This facility, which took about four years to be completed, is a steel structure clad with concrete board that sports a total area space of 58,300 square feet. The external of the building is aluminum board — which reduces the overall weight of the building – and glass. The six stories have four shopping floors, an office floor, and the roof, on which work is in progress. When completed in about two month’s time, the roof will feature a five-star restaurant, two open dining decks, three bars, and a VIP arena.

The Upper Crust Café on the second floor, and Chester Fries Fast Food branch on the first floor, are also complementary pieces that complete the ‘real life experience’ that is promised by the United Center.

With the health and safety of its customers and employees in mind, the building has been fitted with a filtered water system; an earth tremor stabilizer system; state-of-the-art fire alarm response system; and an A/C chill water system, which is a new technology that reduces the carbon footprint of the building itself.

The new United Centre officially opened its doors to the public today at 8:00hrs.