An avenue in Shanghai's Nanhui District will be redeveloped into a shopping district for some of Shanghai's historic names.

Officials from the Shanghai Time-honored Brands Association hope nearly 40 famous shops will be open for business when the avenue is finished in April, and 24 shops have already signed a contract or have an intention to open on the avenue so far.

On the southern side of the 1-kilometer-long avenue, which is under construction, are six-story residential buildings. The two stories at the bottom will be used for shops. European-style buildings with three stories are on the northern side of the avenue.

Shanghai Sunya Cantonese Restaurant, a famous restaurant that first opened in 1926, has set its sights on a 1,700-square-meter lot while Shanghai Linanju Food Factory, which has a history of nearly 100 years, has decided to buy a three-story building on the corner of the avenue.

"It will generate more interest if many old brands gather together," said Dai Ruisong, director of Shanghai Linanju.

(Shanghai Daily July 7, 2006)