WHAT ARE SYRIA'S MALLS REALLY LIKE?

2025-08-25 · YouTube · Foodie Beauty · 14 min

Chantal visits Sham City Center mall in Damascus, tours multiple levels and shops, eats lunch in the food court (Texas Chicken), and then briefly shows views of Damascus and nearby mountains (mentions Mount Qasioun). The video includes commentary about mall amenities (air-conditioning, free Wi‑Fi, glass elevators), stores observed (Reebok, Adidas, United Colors of Benetton), some local snacks (strawberry cream cookies), and a short outside segment near a National Security Building that was previously bombed. Plans to return for further mall and mountain visits are mentioned.

Video guide

  1. 0:00 — Intro: arrival at Sham Center
  2. 0:58 — Entering Sham City Center (Damascus) and plan
  3. 2:06 — Food court meal at Texas Chicken
  4. 5:03 — Mall shopping levels and stores (Reebok, Adidas, Benetton)
  5. 4:41 — Top floors, elevators, and amenities (AC, Wi‑Fi)
  6. 9:33 — Scenic views and mountain attempt (Mount Qasioun)
  7. 13:41 — Outside footage and National Security Building mention
  8. 13:57 — Outro and plans to return

People, places, food, and other named details

  • Person — Salah: Mentioned as Chantal's husband who was handling business in Damascus and who picks her up; directly participates in outing logistics.
  • Restaurant — Texas Chicken: Fast-food outlet in the mall food court where the speaker eats a fillet meal with fries and coleslaw.
  • Restaurant — Sham Grill: Buffet / shisha restaurant mentioned as an option in the mall.
  • Restaurant — Charlie's: Food-counter name observed in the food court; described as probably a knockoff of Hardee's and not open at noon.
  • Food — coleslaw: Side included with the Texas Chicken meal.
  • Food — fries: French fries served with the Texas Chicken meal; described as crispy and hot.
  • Food — chicken fillet: Large fillet in the Texas Chicken sandwich observed in the meal.
  • Food — strawberry cream cookies: Cookies sampled earlier and described as good to serve with coffee; the speaker may have eaten one or two.
  • Place — Sham Center: The mall visited in Damascus where the tour takes place.
  • Place — Mount Qasioun: Mountain referenced as a future destination and shown in scenic footage behind Damascus.
  • Place — National Security Building in Damascus: Mentioned in closing footage as a building that Israel had bombed not long ago.
  • Product — United Colors of Benetton: Clothing store observed in the mall.
  • Product — Reebok: Sportswear brand/store observed in the mall.
  • Product — Adidas: Sportswear brand/store observed in the mall.

Transcript and captions

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