The process for leasing the ground floor space in Samaras pedestrian precinct, which until recently housed a branch of the Ethniki Bank, has commenced, with strong interest from various prospective bidders.
The announcement of the public auction, with the submission of sealed bids, conducted by Corfu Orphanage, for the lease of the property, is expected to be published very soon. According to information received by Enimerosi, the starting price for the monthly rent has been set at 9,200 Euros, based on the relevant report of a sworn appraiser for the minimum rental value, upon which offers will be made by interested parties.
Interested parties will be able to submit their bids from March 13th to March 26th, at the foundation's headquarters, located at 5 Ariti Street, in Analipsi. On March 27th, the sealed bids will be opened and the winner will be determined based on the highest price offered.
Letters of guarantee and rental deposits
For participation in the tender, a letter of guarantee of 18,400 Euros is required, while the bidder who will be selected has the obligation to provide a letter of guarantee equivalent to 12 months' rent based on the determined amount. This condition is included in the announcement as a security clause to prevent financial losses for the institution from unpaid rents. Additionally, the bidder is required to make a deposit equivalent to six months' rent for the lease of this desirable property.
12+3 years
The lease duration is set for 12 years with the option of extension for another three. The new tenant who will occupy the premises will have at their disposal the ground floor of 327.44 square metres, the mezzanine floor of 132.50 square metres, and a small basement of 19.03 square metres, owned by Corfu Orphanage.
Attractive prospect for bidders
Already, some of the potential lessees have expressed interest in renting the property due to its prime location in the heart of the town. As mentioned by Enimerosi in a previous report (publication date 02-12-2023), Eurobank sees potential in this particular space and is considering relocating there.
Moreover, if its offer prevails and Eurobank ultimately vacates the ground floor on Alexandras Avenue, it is not unlikely that other businesses in the area may expand their operations to this property. Along this stretch where Eurobank is situated, coffee businesses primarily operate. Additionally, information received by Enimerosi suggests that supermarket chains are also interested in the property, which is once again available for exploitation.
The interior of the property is in good condition, and for some time now, it has been emptied of equipment (desks, computers, ATMs) belonging to Ethniki Bank, following the closure of the branch last October, due to the downsizing of its network.
History of the building
The building in Samaras St. was constructed between 1972-1978. The plot was provided by Corfu Orphanage to the Municipality of Corfu and through it to the Ministry of Employment for the construction of the Workers Centre. A part of the building (ground floor, mezzanine, small basement) was allocated to the Orphanage, while the remaining spaces belong to the former OAED and are used by the Workers Centre.
