A seven million pound Virgin Megastore was recently opened in Beirut, by the maverick British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson. The new Lebanese store will become the record company’s first foothold in the Arab world.
The event was typically Branson-like. Wearing traditional baggy Lebanese mountain pants, he entered sitting on a couch loaded onto a bulldozer's fork lift, which carried the company's red cursive logo. Fireworks were set off as the store officially was opened.
Virgin’s new store is located in a five-floor building, which once served as a cinema. It was badly damaged during the 1975-90 civil war.
Among those congratulating Branson was Lebanon’s prime minister, Rafiq Hariri. He described the Virgin Megastore as testimony of Beirut's revival. ― (MENA Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
