Lower-ground shops at China Center: the babies’ and kids’ floor

What is on the lower ground at China Center?

The lower ground is the first retail level of the building, below the street-level ground floor. The developer’s plan draws 55 shops on a covered area of 11,580 sq ft, with 5,921.49 sq ft of it saleable. The gap between the two figures is typically shared space such as walkways and stairs, so ask how common areas are handled once the building is occupied.

With 55 shops drawn on under 6,000 sq ft of saleable space, the units are compact. The listed shops are 100, 105, 108 and 113 sq ft, which makes this the floor with the lowest ticket size in the building.

How much does a lower-ground shop cost, size by size?

Every lower-ground shop is priced at Rs 40,000 per sq ft on the developer’s current inventory sheet. The figures below are the full breakdown for each listed size, confirmed at booking.

• 100 sq ft (for example LG45, LG46, LG50, LG51, LG52, LG55, LG56): Rs 40,00,000 in total, Rs 12,00,000 down, 24 instalments of Rs 1,00,000, Rs 4,00,000 on possession.
• 105 sq ft (LG01, LG12, LG15, LG16): Rs 42,00,000 in total, Rs 12,60,000 down, 24 instalments of Rs 1,05,000, Rs 4,20,000 on possession.
• 108 sq ft (for example LG17, LG29, LG35, LG41): Rs 43,20,000 in total, Rs 12,96,000 down, 24 instalments of Rs 1,08,000, Rs 4,32,000 on possession.
• 113 sq ft (LG36): Rs 45,20,000 in total, Rs 13,56,000 down, 24 instalments of Rs 1,13,000, Rs 4,52,000 on possession.

Why is the lower ground planned for babies’ and kids’ products?

The owner has planned this floor around babies’ and kids’ products: clothing, toys, school and nursery items, footwear and similar goods. The idea is that families come to one floor for everything for their children, and that compact units suit goods that are small and move in volume.

This is the owner’s plan for the floor, not a signed tenant, a lease or a promise of footfall. Ask at booking what it means for your trade, for example whether a shop outside the theme is allowed, and whether the plan is written into any rules you sign.

Which kids’ businesses fit a 100 to 113 sq ft shop?

At roughly 10 by 10 feet, a 100 sq ft unit works best for a focused range: baby clothing and accessories, toys and games, school bags and stationery, or children’s shoes. Wall shelving and a single counter are usually enough. Bulky goods such as prams, cots and ride-on toys need floor space these units do not really have.

The difference between sizes is small in money terms. Going from 100 to 108 sq ft adds Rs 3,20,000 to the total and Rs 8,000 to each instalment. If an extra shelf run matters to your stock, the 108 sq ft units cost little more.

What should you check about a lower-ground shop?

A floor below street level is a different proposition from a shopfront, so check how customers will reach it before you choose a unit.

• Where your unit sits on the developer’s lower-ground plan, and how far it is from the stairs and entrances.
• How customers get down from the street, and what signage at street level is allowed.
• Ventilation, lighting and power provision for a retail unit below ground.
• Whether your unit is on a corner: a corner premium may apply; confirm at booking.
• How often the 24 instalments fall; the schedule is confirmed at booking.

Should you buy a lower-ground shop to run or to let?

Many buyers of small shops never intend to stand behind the counter. If you plan to let the shop, the planned focus still matters: a tenant selling kids’ products fits the floor’s plan, and a tenant in an unrelated trade may need the owner’s consent. Ask at booking what rules apply to tenants, and whether the owner or a management body will have a say in who trades on the floor.

No rent figures are published for China Center, and this guide does not estimate any. Before relying on letting income to fund the 24 instalments, talk to shopkeepers and agents in Bahria Town Phase VIII about what small units let for and how long they stand empty, and make sure you can carry the payments from your own resources if a tenant takes longer to find than you hoped.

How does the lower ground compare with the other shop floors?

Per square foot, the lower ground costs the same as the first and second floors, Rs 40,000, and Rs 15,000 less than the ground floor. A 100 sq ft lower-ground shop is Rs 40,00,000 against Rs 55,00,000 for the same size at street level, a difference of Rs 15,00,000 in total and Rs 37,500 per instalment.

What you give up for the lower price is street frontage. What you get is the lowest entry ticket in the building and a floor with a single, family-focused plan. To take the next step, WhatsApp Al Faisal Properties on +92 334 9107537 with the unit codes you like and ask for the official schedule and a site visit.