The Sarfaarsuit Center in Nuuk is nearing its opening, but the final approvals are still missing. Although the goods in Pisiffik are on the shelves, there are still things behind the scenes that need to fall into place. Food director Dennis Larsen, however, has an idea of when they can announce an opening date.
The sound of machinescarpenters busy with the final details and employees filling the shelves of the home stores meet us as we move further into the new Sarfaarsuit Center.
From the outside, it looks like the mall is ready to open. The goods are already on the shelves in Pisiffik, and Burger King looks like a restaurant just waiting to open its doors. Therefore, it is not surprising that many citizens ask when the center opens.
One of the first things you notice both from the outside and inside is Burger King. The restaurant is one of the places that food director at Pisiffik, Dennis Larsen, proudly shows off.
– With the success we have had in Sisimiut, we also have high expectations for the restaurant here in Nuuk, says Dennis Larsen.
Therefore, the center has not yet opened
When Nuummiut drives past the 9,000 square meter centre, which fills the landscape along the busy road, it is natural to ask when the doors will open. Dennis Larsen also gets that question often.
– I can understand that people ask when we open. As you can also see, we are closer now. We no longer count months, but perhaps rather weeks and days. However, we are still missing the last things that need to be put in place.
And there is a reason for that.
– When you have such a shop, you must have authority approvals. It can be a commissioning permit. There is something about security, emergency exits and a great many technical things in such a building. In the end, it is the municipality that must give us the permission, says Dennis Larsen.
Recruitment has been a big task
Around 100 employees will work in the centre’s various shops, cafes and restaurants.
However, it has been a bit of a challenge to recruit employees. Pisiffik, like other companies, is affected by a lack of labour. But now the staffing is under control.
– We are actually getting in place all the way around.
However, it has also been necessary to bring in labor from outside.
– First of all, we have been looking locally. Who do we have locally that we can bring in? It is very important for us to work with locals. When there has not been enough, we have had people from outside. It could be someone on sabbatical or employees from the Philippines. It’s such a good mix of everything, says Dennis Larsen.
Although the staffing is now in place, the final details are still missing before the center can open. In the home stores Jysk and Ilva as well as the do-it-yourself stores Sannatit and thansen, the last items need to be put in place. In addition, the center will also have a café in addition to Burger King. However, it is only expected to open at a later date.
Looking forward to the opening
There are still a few things that need to fall into place. But Dennis Larsen is already looking forward to the center opening its doors soon.
– I’m really looking forward to it. It’s almost like Christmas Eve.
And perhaps citizens will not have to wait much longer to get an opening date. Dennis Larsen hopes that they can announce a date as early as next week.
– We hope that sometime next week we can announce something. But as I say, it is important for us that we have all approvals under control first. And we are not masters of that ourselves, concludes Dennis Larsen.
