The Complete Guide to The Avenues
Published June 17th, 2007Have you been to the Avenues yet? There have been admirers, there have been critics, but nearly everyone’s been to the mall at least once. In a country such as Kuwait, new shopping malls are lauded as the highest of thrills. It seems like the only thing people get excited about here. It’s a sad fact for the general state of the country, but it’s great for shopaholics! Let’s not delve deeper into what it does for our economy, bank accounts, and inflation. This guide will remain light-hearted and hopeful.
The launch of the shopping mall is one of the beginning phases of the Avenues project but what a beginning it’s been! The Avenues mall takes all your favorite retail stores and places them under one roof. In addition to that, they have introduced new stores to the Kuwaiti marketplace such as Lucky Brand Jeans, GAP, Banana Republic and many others.
It also houses one of the largest Ikea stores in the Middle East, the first Carrefour in Kuwait, Cinemas, and an NBK branch. There are many coffee shops and restaurants available there such as Asha’s, Columbus Cafe, Noodle Factory, Maki, Nino, Lorenzo, Starbucks, Paul’s, and several food courts.
Where is the Avenues mall? How do I get there?
The Avenues mall is situated on Fifth Ring Road. You can’t miss it. Directions for people driving from Kuwait City are:
- Drive away from Salmiya and drive in the direction towards Jahra.
- It’s located next to the Rabya area.
- It’s also near Road 601 that leads to Shuwaikh Industrial Area.
This mall is big! What if I get lost?
Everyone I know who’s been to the Avenues has gotten lost at least once, be it inside the mall or in the parking lot. I’ve been lost myself. Now I take precautions against it!
Follow these steps to avoid getting lost in the Avenues parking lot:
- Always remember to take note of where you parked your car.
- Write down the letter and number of the row you parked in so that you don’t lose your car. If you don’t have paper, use your mobile to save the information!
- Also make a note of the escalator you took to get into the mall so that you do not wander aimlessly in the parking lot in search of your car.
Congratulations! You’re in the mall! What now?
When I go into a mall I don’t like wasting time searching for the store I want to go to. Every time I’ve been to the Avenues I’ve had to walk quite a distance and sometimes retrace my steps to find the store I had in mind. I got tired of this and that’s why I put together a rough map of the stores in the Avenues so that you would know how to get there faster. It’s very rough. It doesn’t measure distances accurately but it will do in a pinch if you find yourself momentarily disoriented.
I’ve included a map of the ground floor and first floor. Print them out and take them with you the next time you visit the Avenues. Tell me if they help you navigate the mall better.
Follow these steps to avoid getting lost in the Avenues:
- Click on my maps below.
- Print them.
- Take them with you when you visit The Avenues!
Click on the thumbnails to get the large images of each map.
If you cannot get to the image by clicking on it post the following addresses into your internet browsers:
1) http://kuwait-style.com/images/ImageBank/Mine/THE-AVENUES-MALL-MAP-GROUND-FLOOR.jpg
2) http://kuwait-style.com/images/ImageBank/Mine/THE-AVENUES-MALL-MAP-FIRST-FLOOR-002.jpg
In all honesty, I believe it’s the mall’s job to put together a proper informational booklet. They should have a store directory and map available at all the information desks instead of security men who have difficulty understanding your question, are unhelpful, or try to flirt with you.
I can’t think of one mall in Kuwait that has a map or store directory. The closest I can think of is Marina Mall posting names of stores on the walls at the beginning each corridor so that you know you’re headed in the right direction. Shopping mall developers, are you listening?
Update: An Avenues Map does exist! Thank you readers for letting me know! You can see it for yourself on the Avenues Map Uncovered post!
You told me where it is. You showed me how to avoid getting lost. But I still don’t want to waste a visit to the mall. Just tell me, what stores do they have?
Click on the next page to view the store directory. You will find the page number below Related Posts.
28 Responses to “The Complete Guide to The Avenues”
- 1 Pingback on Jun 22nd, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Hi
I have been reading your posts on a daily basis..even though that I dont comment =) Very useful info and unique style…Keep up the good work!
I wouldn’t have been able to figure out all the stores they have..until now
WOW! WTG Zahra!
This is amazing work you have done here!!
LOL.. on the saving a message trick! I do this all the time!
I actually like the mall a lot.. one stop shop!
Your post is informative and exceeds expectations sara7a since they, the Avenues people, didnt bother to do half of what you did! I find it very useful and printable too heehee
Maps are clear and great, also the store guide (yay it will be updated with new stores openning) so you knoe from now that this will be the most visited post of the week!
Great pics too… Zahra, TWO THUMBS UP!
“but nearly everyone’s been to the mall at least once”
I have not been there nor do I intend on going to the Devil’s mall.
Amazing job, really helpful
keep up the good work.. print it up as a brochoure and sell it to the Ave. 
Nice! I liked it but it’s too big!
I go to each starbucks and haggle with them ..
“Starbucks #4 gave me a mocha for .900filse, whats your offer?”
hey hun i have been a few times and each time they have given me a beautiful color coded map, with English on the front and Arabic on the back, it is a 3 page fold out and even has a directory below the map sorting the stores in category, i’m so surprised none of u have seen it…just ask at the desks. On the map they even have the new stores that haven’t opened yet like urban behavior!! yay!!!
Kirti that’s great news! I wonder why they didn’t give us that map? It could be that they ran out of it when I asked for one but that wouldn’t explain why none of us have seen it. Thank you for your information! At least I benefited from walking around Avenues of figuring out where the stores were
Now to get the map and scan it in for this post 
It should prove to be much better looking than my hasty sketch!
Umba7ar I’m glad you find my blog entertaining and hope it never fails to satisfy
If you have a topic you want me to cover please let me know! Thank you again for your continued support!
Ansam thank you :*** Where would we be without our trusty mobiles? Haha! I hope you will continue to enjoy the rest of the mall series. I plan on publishing guides to all the malls in Kuwait
Purgatory72 that is why I wrote ‘nearly’. Thank you for visiting and posting a comment. Your blog is fantastic! I am enjoying the Devil posts
Rasha haha thanks but it appears they already have one! That’s a positive step. Now on making these maps available. Maybe a huge sign and arrow over information desk saying ‘GET YOUR MALL GUIDE HERE’? Haha! Hope to see you back here again!
chikapappi but size shouldn’t matter!
K.Thekuwaiti haha! I can’t imagine the reactions! Thank you for your comment
A big thank you to all who viewed this page! Please let me know if there are any adjustments that need to be made.
By the way will not allow for enlarging the picture, use another html command, but I am too lazy to find it.
Where was this map when I was wandering around hopelessly yesterday!?
Thank you
hi ZAHRA, 9ara7a ya3ny mshallah , TWO THUMBS UP! mshalah ya3ny emrattab waied , o el-pictures are perfect , i wonder where did u get the guide maps? mmmm do u have connections inside alshaya company
ihonestly i liked the topic , ur blog rocks and ur comments are just Great , 
i wish the best for you and the blog , btw am advertising the blog whenever i got the chance in our family and my small frnds group 
cuz its amazing mashalah , keep it up 
did you copy paste this post as well? Fonts of previous posts are all messed up now
shopa just the html addresses for the maps! The problem seems to originate from the Event post not this one. It might be the arabic font that’s affecting it all. Thanks for letting me know!
Yes, it should be fixed now. I deleted the Event post and everything appears normal to me now. Could you please double check for me?
Excellent! That’s very informative Zahra! Keep up the good job
“What did you think of my guide to The Avenues mall in Kuwait?”
In a word? Perfect!
What information did you find lacking?
Are you kidding? It was so detailed that I imagine even the not-so-sharp people can find it!
What information would you like to see included?
Well… could you add dates as to when the new stores in the Avenues will actually open? If it’s too troublesome, then please, just forget it. Also, it doesn’t mean that I don’t think you’ve been doing a fantastic (no, seriously, FANTASTIC) job, reporting, reviewing, and all around blogging, on Kuwait-Style. I’m just trying to be helpful lol and that’s the only thing I could think of. Again, if it’s too troublesome (hard, boring, etc…) to come by that information, then you shouldn’t bother because I’m not dying to know. Was just making a suggestion
Honestly though, I am curious as to how you manged to make your map. Did you walk around with a notebook in hand, jotting down the names of the stores? Or do you have a photographic memory?
You don’t have to answer if it’s too personal or whathaveyou.
Finally, this post is sooo going on my favorites list
Seriously though, Zahra you’ve got a pretty cool blog here, but in all honestness, YOU’VE OUTDONE YOURSELF! Well, that’s dedication for you… This post was amazing! I can’t stop gushing lol I’d say keep up the good work but you’ve already passed the “good work” stage by levels. Keep up the AMAZING work! 
when and where is your next trip ?
i hope u can make one for alkout mall, cuz i went there just once 
it would be great if you do it , and i know u will 
and yeah one last thing, thanks for keeping us stuned the last weekend 
and one more last thing, when is your 2nd contest and who is the sponser?
1- “What did you think of my guide to The Avenues mall in Kuwait?”
-simply awesome ,enough said
2- What information did you find lacking?
-lacking!!!! i did print the map (not kiddin) in another words the guide is helpful in many ways , i’ve been at the there once so really the guide gave a much bigger view & infos about the mall it self and the shops located inside it
3-What information would you like to see included?
1-more images, that would be great
2-you could mention each store branches inside The Avenues
or example : you could wrote: H&M has 2 branches …ect
3- i agree with Drunk’n'Gorgeous about adding dates as to when the new stores in the Avenues will actually open, that would be awesome
thanks for you effort
waiting for the next post
suggestion : i know we can get the latest post page by choosing it from the ( Recent Posts ) on left side of the blog,it will be shown at the top, but can you add a new section and name it ( Home ) and u can put it next to ( Blog ) and ( About ) above the page so whenever lazy readers like me are browing the blog’s pages ,we simply can get back to the main page,only by clicking the ( home ) button
it would be helpful for a lazy person like me instead of clicking back & forward buttons each time 
its just a small suggestion,really its not important,the blog is awesome with/without it ,thanks
Well done Zahra. I went there last week. The taxi driver did not know where it was and tried to dump me in a garden centre in the middle of no-where. The trick is to call it IKEA!! (I’m sure it can be seen from outer space but still remains invisible to a taxi driver whoi lives here!!) It is spectacular and I am well impressed. It is not for me - being a bit behind the times and boring but I cannot but applaud it. My family will enjoy it. In London all of the Starbucks are filled with visitors - Chinese, Malay, various ethnicities and I formed a theory that only foreigners go to Starbucks - nice to see it (er them) full of locals doing morning coffee.
When I left I realised I was lost and so asked for directions to the taxi. Don’t do that!! I went literally from pillar to post mainly in the car parks being sent and moved on by nice ladies dressed in desert boots who did not do taxi information and looked like Praetorian Guards - but nice.
You find taxis at IKEA - where you came in but by some miracle of economics it costs you more to go home than to come. This, as our good friends from the Wild West would say is an Asymmetrical Attack on my loose change. I am pleased to have used that phrase and apologise for the pre-amble to it.
Zahra and Kirti-
When I asked them for a map.. they kinda gave me a puzzled face.. like what map! what are you talking about! I never knew a map existed!!
That is one thorough guide!!! (Standing Novation!!!) Seriously well done, and you have some very fine points!! I am a person who doesn’t like shopping much, I prefer online but for cloths I have to go!! This is a great guide, and your right nobody has a damn map of a mall to tell you whats there, maybe because so many shops open and close because rent is so expensive!
You have everything written out very well, and now I know where to go for food! Its sad but your right people get excited about malls! I remember when they were getting excited about Al Fanar when it first opened in the 90s!!! It was huge!! And the theater was always packed!
The avenues is open and I like that but like you said there aren’t any helpful people! I wish they employed young kuwaities to do that!! Just like in MTC its nice asking people questions even if its simple questions and they have answers!
Wow! Thank you all for your comments! I appreciate all the feedback you send my way
Purgatory72 I would have helped you out but I then thought why would he need a map if he will not be visiting the Avenues?
Jewaira welcome to my blog! I’m honored to have you here. I’m an avid reader of your blog but must admit I am too shy to comment
I’m sorry my time did not come in time but hope you make use of it now that you know where it is 
Hope to see you back here again!
SaLem thank you!!! You are kindness itself
I am blessed in having a reader like you visit my blog! No connections or I would have been given the original map to begin with haha! Thank you for your advertising efforts 
Confashion thank you for your support!
Drunk’n'Gorgeous thank you!!! Haha I must admit I loved the format of your personal Q&A. I will try to find out the dates but to be honest I am not sure I will be able to keep up. As you know they keep opening stores and this blog has consumed me
I don’t want it to turn completely into a blog about The Avenues. (and yes I was wandering around trying to memorize stores. You can imagine how many visits it took! haha!) I will keep an eye and ear open and let you know as soon as I do, when new stores grace the Avenues so definitely keep checking back! I am also going to introduce a feature I am sure you’ll love but will keep it a surprise. I have to work on it this weekend!
SaLem I will inshAllah have a guide to all the malls in Kuwait but have to tell you that AlKout is near the bottom of my list. I will try to post it sooner just for you! Details about the next contest and sponsor are still pending
Thanks for your recommendations, I will work on including them.
As for the navigating the blog, if you are on a post and want to return to the home page just click on BLOG on the upper left corner (next to ABOUT and LINKS) and you should be set! Hope that helps
Allen thank you for your invaluable comment! I now realize I should have included pick up points for people without cars. I forget that there are many in the country who depend on taxis! I have talked to the Security Guards at Avenues many times and none of them understood me when I spoke in English or Arabic.
Ansam yes that is pretty much the same reaction, add in some flirting
Marzouq thank you so much for that!
I’m glad you liked the post! About malls I already know people who are excited for the Kuwait Mall and other projects and Avenues isn’t completely open yet! Why all this excitement over malls I will never understand. I just get excited over the stores, new collections and sales! 
I love your idea of employeeing young Kuwaitis! I wonder where we can make recommendations! I asked a security guard (Kuwaiti) and he didn’t answer me. Maybe he didn’t want to?
Hi there fairy god mother of fashion.. I heard a lot about you and it was all good great and amazing..
So I have this question.. forever21.. is it ready for people yet? cuz I like it a lot and I wanna see their collection.. its so comfy i dunno.. I like it..
Oh and that stradivadius is good too for me I dunno maybe cuz im a college student and I like to feel comfortable.. What do u think fashion queen? :p
Im 21 and I just wanna know your idea on how I should dress up for going out..
Thaanks
Haha! Thank you Amna! When I last went to Avenues it wasn’t ready but I’ll pop by today and double check for you
I think whatever makes you feel comfortable is the right choice. I don’t advocate wearing something that makes you feel awkward or self-concious 
there is a map for the avenues stores. u can get them at any information point (near starbucks on the ground floor).
mm the Avenues Mall is AMAZING !!
its the first mall that i vist in Kuwait that u can actually get what u want ! its simply amazing ..
anyway .. im calling the Avenues mall right now ! today is my sisters Birthday .. and i am tring to get ” Oysho’s ” number .. but no one is answering me .. so could u give me some advice on how to reach them !? it couls be Oysho in Marina but i prefer The Avenues (H) ! thats aloot