Department stores or shopping centers are one of the target locations for many people to open a restaurant. Although it is well known that opening a restaurant in a department store is more expensive than a location outside the department store, but with the strengths of department stores in terms of traffic or various magnets that can attract attention, as well as having various facilities, especially parking, locations in department stores are in demand. Department stores in our country can be divided into 3 main types:

• Department Store or large department store

• Hypermarket or department store that focuses on retailing consumer goods

• Community Mall A shopping center that focuses on outdoor sales areas without air conditioning.

Each type has a different target group. Therefore, the type of restaurant that will open in the mall should also study customer behavior. However, if anyone wants to open a restaurant in all 3 types, the conditions and regulations are not very different. We have summarized it into easy-to-understand steps as follows:

15 steps to opening a store in a shopping mall

1. Present your profile to the company for consideration.

The mall has the right to accept or reject us. Therefore, writing a profile is very important. Explain it concisely, make it easy to understand, and highlight the strengths so that the mall can see the opportunity to get more from us than the rental fee.

2. After accepting the department store quotation

After accepting the quotation from the department store, the lessor will proceed to send a letter of intent to reserve the space, which will contain details of the rental of the space for you to understand before reserving the space and paying the deposit for the reservation space. It is usually divided into 2 installments. The reservation contract must be printed in 2 copies, one for the lessee and one for the department store.

3. After placing the first installment of the deposit

When the agreement to sign the space reservation contract and prepare the check for the first installment of the space reservation deposit, the tenant will take the two contracts and the check to the department store to proceed with signing the space reservation approval document and receive a receipt for the first installment of the reservation deposit.

4. Receive Requirement

After receiving the insurance receipt, the department store will send the system requirements that we need to use, such as the size of the water supply pipe, the waste water pipe, the power of the electricity, the power of the air conditioner, etc.

5. Receive room area files and system work.

The department store will provide the tenant with the room area and system files, which are CAD and PDF files, along with the decoration terms and conditions, to be forwarded to the decoration and system designer to create the construction plans.

During this time, the tenant will be in the process of finding a designer to estimate the price of the drafting. If a drafting designer is found, an appointment will be made with the designer and the caretaker of the rental space to request to see the actual room space, check the information of the actual room with the model sent by the department store to see if it matches or not. Then, it will be in the process of designing the layout and perspective images to create the restaurant brand.

6. Propose a perspective for the department store to approve.

After getting the desired Perspective image, the tenant will submit it to the shopping mall for consideration and approval for the construction drawing. During this time, it will be in the construction drawing process.

7. Send the form to the department store for approval.

After obtaining the desired construction plan, the tenant must submit it to the shopping mall for consideration and approval to start construction.

8. Find contractors

Once the shopping mall approves the construction plan, a contractor can be found to start construction immediately.

9. Coordinate with department stores to request space.

When you have selected a contractor (or some of them), make an appointment with the department store to proceed with the area request. There will be a signed document confirming the area receipt and payment of the second reservation deposit. Also, inquire about the rules and regulations for construction, such as the hours that work can be started, the use of water, electricity, moving things, etc.

10. Pay the construction deposit.

The department store will provide an invoice for the construction deposit for the tenant to pay. This deposit will be refunded only when the construction is complete and there are no breaches of the conditions specified by the department store.

11. Coordinate various matters

During the construction, there will be other coordination with the shopping mall as follows:

• Requesting documents for registration and making Form Por. 20 (the legal department will inform you of what documents are required)

• Coordination of various public relations media within the rental location

• Coordinate and resolve various on-site problems that arise.

12. Request to open a partition in front of the store.

When the construction is completed, a document must be submitted requesting to open the partition in front of the store to prepare for opening for sale. The department store will send a creditor to inspect the decoration design and all system work in the store to ensure that it is in accordance with the design informed before construction and in accordance with the decoration conditions.

13. Waiting for the results of opening the partition in front of the store

If no errors are found or minor corrections are waived by the lessor, approval will be given to open the partition to prepare for further sales. When opening the partition, the sale must be opened within 1 day from the opening date.

14. Fix various points as stated by the department store.

After opening the store, if there are any corrections that the officer has informed, please promptly fix them within the specified time frame. Once the corrections are complete, please notify the officer to come and inspect again.

15. Notification of request for refund of construction deposit

When all construction, decoration and system works are completed, the tenant sends a letter requesting a refund of the construction deposit, which the department store will refund in the form of a cash check and set a date for collection.

These are the 15 main steps that most department stores use. There may be other steps inserted depending on the specific conditions of each department store. The important thing is to plan the work schedule because if the plan is wrong, what will follow is that the expenses will double!