Mamilla Mall
An upscale open-air shopping promenade and mixed-use urban complex beside Jerusalem's Old City.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Mamilla Mall, also known as Alrov Mamilla Avenue, is an upscale open-air shopping and dining destination in West Jerusalem. It runs between Jaffa Road and the Old City, immediately northwest of Jaffa Gate, and forms a commercial link between central West Jerusalem and the historic walled city. Rather than functioning as an enclosed suburban shopping center, it is organized around a roughly 610-metre pedestrian promenade lined with shops, restaurants, cafés, public spaces, offices and architectural landmarks. The mall is the commercial centerpiece of the broader Alrov Mamilla Quarter, a mixed-use redevelopment that also includes luxury residential buildings, hotels and a large parking facility. The retail complex contains approximately 28,000 square metres of retail space and about 140 stores. Its tenant mix has included international fashion, sportswear, jewelry, cosmetics and lifestyle brands alongside Israeli designers, restaurants, cafés, pharmacies, souvenir retailers and other services. Reported tenants have included Tommy Hilfiger, Dior, Adidas, Nike, The North Face, Swarovski, Rolex, Mango, Zara, Stradivarius, Tous, Columbia and Foot Locker, although the exact tenant roster changes over time. The destination serves both Jerusalem residents and visitors, including domestic shoppers, international tourists and pilgrims. Mamilla's identity is strongly tied to architectural conservation. The project was designed by Moshe Safdie and developed by Alrov Properties and Lodgings. Its buildings use Jerusalem masonry, arches, terraces and irregularly spaced structures intended to echo the historic urban fabric. Facades from nineteenth-century buildings on the former Mamilla Street were preserved, dismantled where necessary, stored and reconstructed within the new development. Notable integrated structures include the Convent of St. Vincent de Paul, Clark House and the Stern House, associated with Theodor Herzl's 1898 visit to Jerusalem. The preservation strategy gives the promenade a historical character while accommodating contemporary retail and hospitality uses. The mall's development was unusually prolonged. Plans to transform the deteriorated Mamilla area into a major mixed-use district emerged in the early 1970s. The proposal encountered opposition from preservationists, environmental groups, religious organizations, merchants and planning authorities. Disputes concerning land, zoning, building rights, compensation and project responsibilities led to litigation and arbitration, while changes to the original design further delayed construction. The London-based Ladbroke Group withdrew from the development in the early 1990s, after which the Alrov Group assumed the project. The mall eventually opened in stages between 2007 and 2008, completing a redevelopment process that had lasted decades. The adjoining Alrov Mamilla Jerusalem Hotel opened in 2009. A six-storey parking structure beneath and around the complex provides capacity for approximately 1,600 cars and 60 buses, with bus facilities connected to the surrounding urban transport network. The parking structure is integrated into landscaped terraces so that it is less visually dominant from the surrounding streets. At the southern end, the promenade opens toward a landscaped public area and Jaffa Gate, while views toward the Tower of David and the Old City reinforce the site's role as an urban gateway. Beyond retail, Mamilla hosts temporary art displays, public concerts, holiday activities, street performances, family programming and religious events. The Alrov Group has presented changing exhibitions by local artists along the promenade, and the site has also been used for flash mobs and nonprofit awareness activities. Its open-air format and proximity to major tourist landmarks make it an important part of Jerusalem's visitor economy. Security has also been a recurring concern: in 2013, Israeli authorities announced that they had uncovered a Hamas-linked plot to bo…
History
Mamilla Street historically extended from Mamilla Pool toward Jaffa Gate. During the nineteenth century, prosperous Arab residents developed homes, offices and commercial premises along the route, and the area became an important mixed Arab-Jewish commercial district by the late Ottoman period and especially during the British Mandate. Businesses included furniture, textiles, household goods, art, photography and automobile showrooms. The district was severely damaged during the political violence that followed the United Nations Partition Plan. On 2 December 1947, Arab mobs attacked Mamilla Street and burned or looted numerous Jewish-owned shops. The area then suffered bombardment during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. After the fighting, Mamilla became part of the contested boundary between Jordanian-controlled East Jerusalem and Jewish-controlled West Jerusalem until the 1952 truce. During the 1950s, deteriorating buildings were occupied by poorer Sephardic immigrant families, tradespeople and workshops, while garages and repair businesses replaced much of the earlier retail activity. In 1970, the Jerusalem municipality proposed replacing the deteriorated district with a large mixed-use development combining housing, hotels, shops, traffic infrastructure and parking. Mayor Teddy Kollek commissioned Moshe Safdie and Gilbert Weil to prepare a plan. The original concept envisioned underground traffic routes, a pedestrian promenade, extensive parking and a bus terminal, with the stated urban goal of creating a living connection between the Old City and the newer parts of Jerusalem. The proposal was approved in principle in 1972 but generated sustained opposition from preservationists, environmentalists, religious groups, merchants and planning bodies. A revised approach retained more historic facades and altered the traffic and public-space arrangements. Safdie incorporated many of these changes into a later plan, but disagreement continued over the treatment of historic structures and the scale of the redevelopment. During the 1970s, the municipality relocated more than 700 families from Mamilla to other Jerusalem neighborhoods and moved workshops and garages to Talpiot, helping establish that area's industrial zone. The Ladbroke Group of London won the original development tender in 1989 but withdrew in the early 1990s. Development subsequently passed to Alfred Akirov's Alrov Group. During the 1990s, Alrov completed substantial portions of the surrounding David's Village residential project and the David Citadel Hotel, but construction of the mall remained stalled. Disputes involving Alrov, the government-owned Karta development company and public authorities concerned building rights, zoning modifications, compensation and responsibility for delays. Litigation and arbitration repeatedly interrupted the project. Alrov modified aspects of the approved design, including replacing planned covered arcades with more open arches and seeking additional retail space. The developer also proposed a nine-screen entertainment complex near the Convent of St. Vincent de Paul. That proposal was later abandoned following Orthodox Jewish objections. Construction delays left unfinished buildings and cranes near Jaffa Gate for years. In August 2006, the Jerusalem District Court upheld earlier arbitration decisions requiring Karta to compensate Akirov for project delays. Construction then resumed, and Mamilla Mall opened progressively from 2007 through 2008. Safdie's completed design sought to make the new commercial district appear continuous with Jerusalem's historic fabric. Nineteenth-century facades were preserved and incorporated into new masonry buildings, while several structures were dismantled, stored and reconstructed. The Stern House, connected with Theodor Herzl's 1898 visit, was saved after preservationists challenged its proposed demolition and was reassembled on the promenade. Clark House and the Convent of St. Vincent de Paul remain on their original sites. Buildings are arranged irregularly, with setbacks, terraces, courtyards and openings that frame views toward Jaffa Gate, the Tower of David and the Old City. The complex combines approximately 28,000 square metres of retail space with offices, restaurants, cafés and public areas. Its parking and bus facilities are concealed within a large terraced structure designed to reduce the visual impact of vehicle infrastructure. The adjoining 194-room Alrov Mamilla Jerusalem Hotel opened in June 2009. Since completion, the promenade has functioned as both a shopping destination and a public venue for art exhibitions, concerts, holiday programs, street performances and community events. The mall has also been the subject of a significant security incident: in 2013, Israeli authorities announced the discovery of an alleged Hamas plot targeting the complex during Rosh Hashanah.
- 2013
Reported Hamas-linked attack plot uncovered
[1]Israeli security authorities announced that they had disrupted an alleged plot to bomb the mall during Rosh Hashanah.
- 2009
Alrov Mamilla Jerusalem Hotel opens
[1]The adjoining 194-room Alrov Mamilla Jerusalem Hotel opened on the northern side of the mall.
- 2008
Mall development completed
[1]The open-air mall completed its staged opening and became a major retail and visitor destination beside the Old City.
- 2007
Staged opening begins
[1]Mamilla Mall began opening sections of its pedestrian retail avenue after a prolonged redevelopment process.
- 2006
Court upholds arbitration awards
[1]The Jerusalem District Court upheld earlier arbitration rulings concerning project delays, allowing construction of the mall to resume.
- 1990
Alrov assumes development role
[1]After Ladbroke withdrew in the early 1990s, development was taken over by Alfred Akirov's Alrov Group.
- 1989
Ladbroke wins development tender
[1]The London-based Ladbroke Group won the original tender to develop the Mamilla project.
- 1972
Initial plan approved amid opposition
[1]The city approved the broad redevelopment concept, prompting sustained objections concerning historic preservation, environmental effects, religious concerns and urban scale.
- 1970
Municipal redevelopment proposal
[1]Jerusalem authorities proposed replacing the deteriorated Mamilla district with a mixed-use development linking the Old City and West Jerusalem.
Products and positioning
A premium, tourism-oriented open-air retail and cultural destination that combines international and Israeli brands with Jerusalem's historic architecture and proximity to the Old City.
Fashion
Fashion and apparel retail
The mall's principal retail offer consists of international and Israeli fashion stores spanning premium, mainstream and casual segments. Reported tenants have included Tommy Hilfiger, Dior, Mango, Zara, Stradivarius, Castro, Dorin Frankfurt, Ronen Chen and other apparel brands. The tenant mix is designed to serve both residents and visitors seeking clothing, accessories and seasonal fashion in an open-air setting.
Sports retail
Sportswear and footwear
Sports and outdoor retail has formed a significant part of the mall's tenant mix, with reported brands including Adidas, Nike, The North Face, Columbia and Foot Locker. These stores provide athletic clothing, footwear and outdoor equipment for local consumers and tourists.
Luxury retail
Jewelry, watches and luxury accessories
Jewelry, watches and accessories contribute to the mall's upscale positioning. Reported occupants have included Swarovski, Rolex, Tous and H. Stern, alongside other premium boutiques. The category benefits from the mall's location on a major tourist route near Jaffa Gate.
Food and beverage
Restaurants and cafés
The promenade includes restaurants, cafés and casual dining venues that support the mall's role as a public gathering place as well as a retail center. Reported operators have included Café Rimon, Aroma Espresso Bar and Spaghettim, with the broader food offer aimed at residents, families and tourists.
Cultural programming
Art exhibitions and public programming
Changing exhibitions of sculpture and other works by local artists are presented along the pedestrian avenue, with some works offered for sale. Seasonal concerts, street performances, folk dancing, family activities and holiday ceremonies extend the mall's offer beyond conventional retail.
Controversies
2013
Alleged plot to attack Mamilla Mall
Israeli security authorities reported that Hamas members from Ramallah and Jerusalem had planned to bomb Mamilla Mall during the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Two alleged participants were reported to have been employed as maintenance workers at the mall.
Brand decisions
2006
Cancellation of proposed cinema complexOtherBackground
Alrov proposed adding a nine-screen entertainment complex near the Convent of St. Vincent de Paul.
Action taken
The cinema proposal was abandoned after Orthodox Jewish opposition.
Aftermath
The completed complex focused on retail, dining, public space and cultural events rather than the proposed cinema development.
2000
Shift from covered arcades to open-air retailStrategyBackground
The approved concept originally included covered arcades along the pedestrian promenade.
Action taken
Alrov pursued a design using more open arches and additional retail space, reinforcing the avenue's outdoor character.
Aftermath
The open-air format became a defining feature of the completed destination, although zoning and approval disputes contributed to further delays.
1990
Alrov takes over project developmentStrategyBackground
The original developer, Ladbroke Group, withdrew after winning the development tender.
Action taken
Alfred Akirov's Alrov Group assumed responsibility for advancing the Mamilla redevelopment.
Aftermath
Alrov completed surrounding residential and hotel components before resolving the disputes that had delayed the mall itself.
1976
Adoption of a preservation-oriented redesignStrategyBackground
Opposition to the original large-scale redevelopment plan focused on the loss of historic buildings and the project's effect on Jerusalem's urban character.
Action taken
Moshe Safdie incorporated a revised planning approach retaining historic facades, altering the traffic arrangement and creating a pedestrian-oriented commercial avenue.
Aftermath
The revised concept became the basis for the eventual open-air mall, although disputes and approvals continued for decades.
Recent events
- 2009
Gap opens its first Israeli store at Mamilla Mall[1]
Product launch
A Gap location opened at Mamilla Mall, described in reference material as the chain's first store in Israel.
- 2008
Mamilla Mall opens in stages after prolonged redevelopment[1]
Other
The open-air retail complex completed its staged opening after decades of planning disputes, preservation controversies, litigation and construction delays.
Sources2 sources
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