VR Bengaluru

VR Bengaluru, popularly known as Black Box On Whitefield Road,[2] is a mixed-use retail development in India, situated in Whitefield, Bangalore. Its gross floor area is 600,000 square feet (56,000 m²).[1][3] In addition to the retail arcade, the compound hosts a hotel, a multiplex with the largest Gold Class[4] in India along with an IMAX,[5] commercial spaces and customisable collaborative working spaces for start-ups and entrepreneurs.[6]

VR Bengaluru

VR Bengaluru - Black Box On Whitefield Road
Location	Whitefield, Bangalore, India
Coordinates	12.996°N 77.695°E / 12.996; 77.695
Opening date	2015[1]
Developer	Virtuous Retail
Management	Virtuous Retail
Owner	Virtuous Retail
No. of stores and services	100+
Total retail floor area	600,000 square feet (56,000 m^2)[1]
No. of floors	7
Website	vrbengaluru.com

The centre consists of The Hive - a co-working space, The Waverly - Hotel & Residences and the SkyDeck - an activated rooftop with a temperature-controlled pool, a jogging track and an open-air LED screen. South India's first H&M store was launched here in 2016.[7]

Garden City @ VR Bengaluru

Bangalore City Timeline Mural at VR Bengaluru

About

This center is owned, developed and operated by Virtuous Retail South Asia Pte Ltd. VR Bengaluru is part of a mixed-use development which includes residential spaces, a retail arcade and customisable collaborative working spaces. The Black Box on Whitefield Road, VR Bengaluru is touted as a "first-of-its-kind community-centric integrated lifestyle destination of the city". The centre is home to an assortment of brands, a nine-screen multiplex including a purpose-built IMAX which is the biggest in Bangalore, apart from India's largest Gold Class, several pubs, cafes and restaurants spread across the centre, an upscale food court and several fitness & wellness options.

The open landscaped events space at VR Bengaluru, known as "Garden City" regularly hosts community events such as music festivals, farmers’ & artisan markets, activities for children, etc.[8]

The Magic Circle - Vintage Carousel at VR Bengaluru

Whitefield Art Collective 2016 at Garden City, VR Bengaluru

Whitefield Art Collective 2016 at Garden City, VR Bengaluru

Entertainment

VR Bengaluru hosts a 9-screen multiplex from PVR and also Bangalore's second IMAX theatre and India's biggest Gold Class theatres. This is Bangalore's only purpose-built IMAX screen and not retrofitted from a pre-existing screen, thus delivering a pure, unadulterated IMAX experience to viewers.[9]

Apart from a cinema, the centre also places kids at the top of its list of patrons to engage. To this end, they have pedestrianised outdoor locales with a landscaped "Garden City" area where kids can run, play and be themselves without worrying about traffic or other hazards present in an urban environment.

The centre also has a vintage carousel that is actually functional and operates regularly. VR Bengaluru has also invested in "Magic Garden",[10] a sculpted, soft foam play area for kids that is safe, secure and germ free. While this is to engage the very young, older children and teenagers have a full arcade, Fun City [11] to choose from, including unique indoor rides.

See also

• List of shopping malls in Bangalore
• List of shopping malls in India
• VR Chennai

References

1. "VR Bengaluru". EconomicTimes. 30 September 2015.
2. "VR Bengaluru BlackBox on Whitefield Road Launched". Vogue India. 21 June 2016.
3. "VR Bengaluru Detalils".
4. "PVR opens biggest Gold Class at VR Bengaluru". Economic Times. 28 December 2015.
5. "PVR opens Bangalores 2nd IMAX at VR Bengaluru". Economic Times. 28 December 2015.
6. "The Hive". VR Bengaluru.
7. "India's most stunning malls". The Hindu. 25 March 2016.
8. "Multiplex, shops at Phoenix mall sealed". Malls Market. 11 August 2016.
9. "PVR opens biggest Gold Class at VR Bengaluru". Economic Times. 28 December 2015.
10. "Magic Garden". Buzzing Bubs. 15 October 2015.
11. "Fun City at VR Bengaluru". Little Black Book. 26 May 2016.