ACROSS: FİBA CP’S NEWEST CONCEPT, GOURMET GARDEN, HAS JUST OPENED AT STAR MALL SHENYANG. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET, WHAT IS IT THAT GIVES THE CONCEPT AN EXTRAORDINARY APPEAL COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL FOOD COURTS?
YURDAER KAHRAMAN: Gourmet Garden by FİBA CP was created as an inspiring culinary garden, not a traditional food court. We brought together carefully selected local and international food providers to offer a diverse variety of tastes and cuisines within one integrated destination.
Nonetheless, the concept goes way beyond simple dining. The atmosphere plays a vital part in the overall experience where art, music, and digital elements come together seamlessly. The central stage, providing live artistic entertainment and the stunning waterfall installation create a unique ambiance where people can gather and linger, rather than pass through.
Yurdaer Kahraman
CEO and Board Member of FİBA Commercial Properties, member of ACROSS Advisory Board
ACROSS: WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN GOAL BEHIND BRINGING THIS WELL-ASSEMBLED CONCEPT TO SHENYANG?
KAHRAMAN: Our goal was to create something truly special from the start. As a foreign investor, we wanted to introduce something that sets new standards, not just for dining but for quality, creativity, and lifestyle as well. Gourmet Garden reflects our broader vision at FİBA CP, with a commitment to innovation, design excellence, and creating memorable experiences for our visitors. It is a flagship project for us and one that we are genuinely proud of.
ACROSS: HOW HAVE VISITORS RESPONDED SINCE THE OPENING OF GOURMET GARDEN?
KAHRAMAN: The response has been very encouraging. We can already see a significant increase in visitor dwell time and a stronger engagement within the mall as a whole. That is exactly what we wanted to achieve.
Together with the mall’s existing restaurants, Gourmet Garden now contributes to making Star Mall one of the most diverse culinary destinations in Shenyang, combining international flavors, local specialities, and immersive experiences within a single environment.
ACROSS: DIGITAL INTEGRATION SEEMS TO BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE CONCEPT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN A BIT MORE ABOUT THIS ASPECT?
KAHRAMAN: By integrating digital solutions and modern design, Gourmet Garden ensures improved convenience, efficiency, and customer engagement. This, of course, further boosts Star Mall’s overall engagement, as modern design mixed with technology allows for an effortless visitor experience.
ACROSS: FINALLY, HOW DOES GOURMET GARDEN FIT INTO STAR MALL’S AMBITIONS AS A SHOPPING DESTINATION?
KAHRAMAN: I think this is a question that Star Mall Group’s CEO, Vedat Sağıroğlu, can answer best. In his words: “The opening of Gourmet Garden at Star Mall in Shenyang represents a strategic response to the evolving dining and consumption habits in post-pandemic China. In recent years, Chinese consumers—especially younger urban audiences—have increasingly prioritized experiential and social outings over purely functional shopping. Dining out has become an important form of emotional consumption, where people seek enjoyment, connection, and shared experiences in inspiring environments.
With Gourmet Garden, we created a vibrant gastronomic hub bringing together 28 different concepts within a 2,875 m² space with a 500-seat capacity. Designed with a nature- and art-inspired atmosphere, the concept reflects the growing demand for high-quality, diverse, and comfortable dining environments inside shopping malls.
We believe Gourmet Garden will further strengthen Star Mall’s position as a lifestyle destination in Shenyang, encouraging longer visits, social interaction, and repeat footfall while responding to the changing expectations of today’s consumers.”
