Radio City: Adjara Group’s Newest Innovation in the Tbilisi Suburbs

Far from Tbilisi’s well-known tourism hotspots, Radio City aims to offer locals and visitors alike a renovated urban space for sports, shopping, and leisure.

The Adjara Group—best known for turning abandoned Soviet-era buildings into crowd-pleasing hotspots (such as Rooms Hotel and Fabrika)—recently completed the first stage of its latest urban project, Radio City.

Over a dozen kilometers from its previous successes in Tbilisi’s chic Vera neighborhood and upcoming Chugureti district, this new effort aims to bring new services and attention to the suburbs by turning a 12-hectare abandoned radio factory complex into a modern, multifunctional space in one of the city’s largest residential areas.

A new hub

The Adjara Group acquired the Radio City property from Tbilisi City Hall in 2019 through an auction, paying over 23 million lari. The total investment in the project amounts to 90 million lari, with approximately 25 million lari allocated to the first phase of development, which was completed at the end of 2024.

“Located at the intersection of Gldani and Mukhiani, Radio City was designed with local specifics in mind. The project aims to create a unique hub in Tbilisi’s largest district, fostering new connections and knowledge exchange between professionals from various fields,” says Adjara Group Director Nato Japaridze.

Plans for the project span the entire 12 hectares—three buildings and the surrounding territory, which is within a five to 15 minute walk for 455,000 Tbilisi residents, according to Japaridze.

Restoring the old, introducing the new

The site has strong historic ties to the Mukhiani district, which was largely covered in oak trees (Mukha) until the 1970s, according to Kalaki.ge. The name of the project, Radio City, comes from the radio factory that was built on the territory in the 1980s.

From outside there is not much indication of the developments going on inside the old factory. In interviews with the Georgian media, Adjara Group has underscored the goal is to preserve as much of the original building as possible.

With few street signs advertising it, it is easy to miss the Radio City entrance. However, once inside, the level of care and detail in the renovations done to date are a delight. For instance, the restaurant, Diner, would not be out of place in any American city. It boasts copper tile ceilings, a traditional bar and barstools, and booths complete with quirky ketchup and condiment bottles. The only outward sign that the menu is a step above normal diner fare is the bar and the open kitchen, where customers can see the mixologists and chefs at work.

Mixologist Mariam Bolkvadze, 20, says the eatery has already found a large following, despite its distance from the city center.

“It’s great to work with these people and in such an atmosphere,” she says. “We have a lot of customers, especially on Fridays and weekends. Most of our visitors are younger people. Although it is somewhat remote, the affordability draws people in. The menu starts at just five lari. We offer cocktails on tap, which we prepare ourselves, and each cocktail costs 10 lari.”

In addition to the restaurant, there is an office space and paddle courts.

“The area is already quite popular among the local community. The other two buildings are industrial spaces, one of which includes a large-scale event venue with a capacity for up to 10,000 people. These buildings will be fully developed in the coming years, and additional recreational spaces will be created,” Adjara Group Director Japaridze explains.

In the future, Adjara Group plans to make Radio City available to tenants, who will be able to create workshops, small enterprises, creative spaces, cafés, and shops on the premises. The company expects to complete the next phase of the project by the end of 2025.