Category: Gossip & Rumors

According to a friend of mine there was a fire today at Carrefour in The Avenues. The parking underneath was also flooded but not sure if its from the sprinklers or a burst pipe. If anyone has any more information or pictures [Email Me]

Thanks Patrick

Update: According to another source of mine the fire actually started at the Athletes Foot and not Carrefour. Fire sprinklers went off at various spots around the mall and that caused electric shorts as well as flooded the area hence why there was so much water in the parking lot.

I just found out that Alghanim Automotive got a hold of the Honda brand in Kuwait. This should become official by the end of the month but the most exciting part of the news is the fact they’ll finally be bringing the Acura brand to Kuwait which means once the NSX (pictured above) gets released we should have it here as well.

According to a post on FogTa7t there will be a Bungee Jumping Festival at Marina Mall next month. I’ve never bungee jumped before so hopefully it’s the proper stuff so I can finally try it out.

Check out their post for more details. [Link]

I got an email from a reader saying that KDD products are now available at the Qurtuba Co-op. Only at the Qurtuba Co-op and not any other Co-ops as of this post. Usually the Co-ops are all united with their decisions but it seems there is some sort of internal conflict taking place right now and the Qurtuba Co-op was the first one to breakaway from the Co-ops KDD boycott and put KDD back on the shelves. I’m curious to see where this is going.

Thanks Kuwait Lover

It’s been quiet here the past few days but it’s because I’ve been working on a bunch of stuff for the blog. As most of you know Kim Kardashian is coming to Kuwait next week for the launch of Millions of Milkshakes which will be opening in Avenues Phase III (picture above). Kim will be arriving to Kuwait on the 28th and then leave on December 1st to Bahrain.

I’m trying to get as much content as I can regarding her visit and right now I’ve managed to score 5 tickets to giveaway here on the blog. These 5 tickets are for a “meet and greet”, so 5 lucky readers will be able to meet and talk to Kim Kardashian as well as get their photos taken with her.

I’m still trying to figure out how to give away these tickets so if anyone has any ideas let me know. It will have to be some sort of competition and I already have an idea in mind but I’m hoping someone can come up with a better one.

I can’t think of anyone on this planet I’d be willing to pay KD350 just to meet.

Taken from @KardashiansKWT

Yesterday a friend of mine told me a bunch of UFC fighters as well as a couple of ring girls were coming to Kuwait this weekend to visit the US troops and while ago I got confirmation from another friend who represents one of the fighters that they are in fact coming to Kuwait this weekend. The UFC fighters and ring girls will be arriving to Kuwait early morning this Thursday the 11th and they’ll be staying in Kuwait for 2 nights.

Sadly I am traveling that same morning so I won’t be able to stalk them but I might leave my UFC tshirt (pictured above) filled with with my friend so he could get me some more signatures. So far my shirt has signatures from Dan Henderson, Brian Stan, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping and a few other fighters.

Right now I know Mike Pierce and Charlie Brenneman (who just got cut from the UFC) are coming but no idea who else.

Go Sport are opening a new location at Tilal Complex in Shuwaikh near City Center. The new store is located where “Beam” used to be right next to the Toyota dealership. Based on the location of this store my guess is it’s not bigger than their Avenues location. If it does turn out to be bigger than that would be pretty cool.

Update: I got a bit more information from my contact at Go Sport. The location is not going to be larger than the Avenues branch but it will have a different newer look. They’re hoping to have it open and ready by mid October.

According to an email from Eek!, Lulu Hypermarket on the 208 (Subhan area) caught fire but the fire has been contained. If you have pictures or info [Email Me]

Update: Turns out there was a fire which supposedly started with a delivery car in the delivery area. Below is a video of the incident.

[YouTube]

Update2: Here are some photos taken by Tukmol

Nothing announced yet but Perez makes a good point, if Kim Kardashian is coming to Kuwait in October, woud she leave Kanye to spend Thanks Giving alone back in the States? Most likely not. [Link]

Interesting tidbit, the charactar Ashur who they call “the Syrian” on the TV series Spartacus (and who is probably the most hated character on the show) used to live in Kuwait back in the 80s. His real name is Emad Tarabay. I tried to get more details like what school he attended but he wouldn’t share any details with me.

Update: I am aware Emad is originally Lebanese, but on the show they call him “the Syrian”.

I’ve gotten confirmation from two different sources that Prada will be opening at 360 Mall this October. I was also told a second branch would be opening at a later stage in Avenues Phase II. The launch date for the 360 Mall Prada store is currently set for October 15th.

Update: My guess is that the Miu Miu space in 360 Mall is actually for Prada as well.

So I woke up this morning at around 4AM and for some odd reason started thinking about my previous Tesco posts. Originally last year I posted that Alshaya were bringing Tesco to the region. A month later I posted that Sultan Center had signed with Tesco and they were also bringing them to the region. Something didn’t click and it was around 5AM when I started sending out emails and doing a bit of investigating.

What I have managed to piece together is the following but please note this is just my theory based on bits and pieces of information I managed to gather. Last year Tesco representatives came to Kuwait and met with two parties with the aim of finding someone who would give them around 50 stores over a five year period across the MENA region. The two parties they met with were Sultan Center and Alshaya. My guess is that Alshaya signed a confidentiality agreement with Tesco which explains why they got really upset when they read my post. My source took the confidentiality agreement as a done deal which it wasn’t because a month later I posted Sultan Center had also signed with Tesco (Again most likely it was a confidentiality agreement). What I understand now is that Sultan Center is no longer in the picture and that Alshaya have most likely signed with Tesco… but to bring the brand Florence & Fred (F&F) to the region and not the supermarket. F&F is the clothing division of Tesco.

Disappointing news I know but theres light at the end of the tunnel. My opinion is that Alshaya will be bringing F&F to the region so they can build a relationship with Tesco. According to a previous interview with Mohammed Alshaya, he picked Tesco as the one brand he doesn’t have and one which he wants the most. So although it doesn’t look like Carrefour is going to be replaced with a Tesco supermarket anytime soon, I do believe that is the long term goal. By getting the F&F brand they’re putting their foot in the door and if everything goes well which I’m assuming it will, then we can expect Tesco supermarkets in the near future.

I passed by KIPCO Tower (formally known as United Tower) which is located on the same street as Al Hamra Tower and Arraya. The tower looks pretty cool and the mall inside although not big is very bright and nicely designed.

It’s not officially open yet but I did walk around just to see what kind of shops are opening up there and I’ve put together a list which you can see below. Majority of them seem to be restaurants:

Upper Crust Pizza
MEZO (a cafe or restaurant)
Cafe November
Dijon (a restaurant)
Bubbleology Tea (UK franchise)
Alpha Wellness (some kind of spa I’m guessing)
Johnny Rockets
KFH

With three malls on that short strip it’s starting to look like Salmiya… which I don’t mind of course. The tower was originally supposed to have residential space but I’m not sure if that happened.

Earlier today I was told that Habchi and Chalhoub are currently in negotiations with Abercrombie & Fitch to bring them to the region. The Chalhoub Group already have a bunch of popular brands in their roster including Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lacoste, Celine and Marc Jacobs so it would be realistic for them to get the brand although I always imagined Alshaya bringing them. I’m actually interested to see how the brand will adapt to the region but my guess is there won’t be much of an issue. For now I’ll leave you with the video above of the A&F guys lipdubbing “Call Me Maybe” while I go do a thousand sit-ups and starve myself. [YouTube]