Big bazaar shuts down to re-open as Reliance Smart Bazaar in Belagavi – 

The first shopping mall of Belagavi, Big Bazaar is now permanently closed. The Future group has shut most of its Big bazaar stores including one in Tilakwadi-Belagavi since February last week.

Consumers of the city has an emotional bond with Big Bazaar the closure has been painful. The credit of introducing the mall culture to the border city goes to Big Bazaar. Big bazaar was opened here in the year 2007. People used to throng the outlets to spend their weekends. Later, with several other malls, hypermarkets coming up, Big Bazaar started losing its crowd.

After 15 years of its presence in the city the shopping centre closes it’s door as Reliance took control of the store and will be rebranded as Reliance Smart bazaar. Work on rebranding the store has already began here on Khanapur road.

Whats reason for closure of Big Bazaar ? Citing unpaid payments by Future group, Reliance has taken control of operations of some 200 Big Bazaar stores and has plans to seize another 250 of Future’s retail outlets. Combined, they represent the crown jewels of Future’s retail network and around a third of all Future outlets.

What next ? The name of Future Group’s Big Bazaar does not require any identity. But its name is going to change soon. Yes, according to a report, Reliance Retail’s Smart Bazaar is about to replace Big Bazaar. It is said that Reliance Retail is going to launch a new store brand Smart Bazaar. It is named after the locations where Future Group’s Big Bazaar outlets operated.