Habibi & Hawara Enhances Diverse Viennese District

The socio-economic model company is scheduled to open its fourth restaurant on 26 November 2020. Joint venture partner SES Spar European Shopping Centers, which oversees the branch mix and leasing of space within the Seestadt shopping street company, places great emphasis on gastronomic diversity. The new addition corresponds well with public demand and ties in with the concept of a sustainable urban district featuring a broad range of locally supplied amenities and openness to innovative projects. 

The business quarter in Austria’s largest urban development area, aspern Seestadt Vienna, is increasingly taking shape. One project after another is being completed, new tenants are moving in, and stores, service providers, and restaurants are opening at Seeparkquartier, which is directly adjacent to the U2 Seestadt subway station. The culinary offerings available in the emerging district will become even more wide-ranging and vibrant on 26 November: Viennese restaurant and catering company Habibi & Hawara is scheduled to open its newest location in the Seestadt district, complete with 120 indoor seats, an outdoor dining area, and Austrian-Middle Eastern cuisine. 

Habibi & Hawara, a combination of franchise and system gastronomy, offers culinary variety in the form of Middle Eastern cuisine that is characterized by contemporary interpretation and combined with Austrian delicacies. The upcoming fourth location will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner by means of in-restaurant (quick) service, as well as snacks and take-away options. Following the openings of three locations in Vienna’s central districts, such as the recently opened restaurant on Siebensterngasse in the 7th district as well as the one in the Nordbahn quarter, the company, which relies on crowdfunding, has expanded into the Seestadt area via its social franchise system. Martin Rohla, Founder of the socio-economic model company, says: “Our newest location is situated in one of the largest and most exciting urban development areas in Europe – one that will count more than 20,000 residents in the future. We are confident that this is the perfect place to spread our message and open another successful restaurant.” 

An Important Addition to the Shopping Street

Absolutely nothing is left to chance in Seestadt. “Residents of Seestadt are regularly polled regarding their needs in terms of stores, services, and restaurants. A more varied gastronomic offer topped the wish list,” reveals Marcus Wild, CEO of SES Spar European Shopping Centers GmbH, which, together with the Seestadt development company Wien 3420 aspern Development AG, has selectively targeted certain sectors and shopping partners in order to ensure local supply in the district from the very beginning. By 2021, the “managed shopping street” is expected to comprise 28 bars and stores, covering more than 7,000 m². 

“Habibi & Hawara is sure to be a popular destination for the people who live, work, or spend their leisure time in Seestadt. The opening of the restaurant in Seestadt is a great achievement for the shopping street company. Innovative gastronomy offers are extremely important factors with regard to the mix of a lively district and business center. A restaurant like Habibi & Hawara contributes to the overall urban quality of stay and ensures individuality as well as diversity,” says Wild, emphasizing the significance of functional gastronomy.

A Place for “Game Changers”

“Seestadt is a district unlike any other – and not simply due to its size. We are committed to actively contributing to sustainable life in urban areas by means of innovative projects. A great deal of courage and curiosity is required in order to pursue such a goal,” stresses Alexander Kopecek, CEO of Wien 3420 AG. “In that respect, I can see a number of things that we have in common with Habibi & Hawara. A sustainable project, in which social responsibility and economic success are not mutually exclusive, is an ideal complement to the Seestadt concept. This is precisely the kind of ‘game changer’ that we want to attract to our location, and I am confident that there will be many more exemplary projects to follow,” Kopecek says enthusiastically.