End Coming

Developer touts progress of EpiCentre

"What do they think I'm doing out there?" says Afshin Ghazi, laughing. Before he is asked the first question for this interview, he’s repeating a quote from when we profiled him a year ago ("Centre of Attention," by Jen Pilla Taylor).

Ghazi is gloating in the face of the skepticism he's received as the developer of the $275 million EpiCentre, which broke ground downtown in 2005. With the first phases starting to come online—the 1,100-space parking garage opened in December—Ghazi is confident.

"It's going to be one heck of a shot in the arm to an already very exciting downtown."

Development is forging ahead with the EpiCentre’s condo tower, 210 Trade, and hotel, retail, and entertainment venues. Ghazi expects Whisky River, the bar helmed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., to open in February or March. And he's really excited about EpiCentre’s movie theater, which he expects to open by May.

"It's 100 percent premium seating with loveseats. It has a full restaurant and lounge. It's a very cachet, New York-style theater."