Le Gray Beirut is currently moving its small lobby to the other side of the hotel, to make room for a more extensive people-watching lobby (much appreciated in the Middle East). This will encompass the empty retail area (they built this before they realised how many shops and malls would be opening on their doorstep).
Agree that this is a splendid hotel.
Unfortunately, just heard that second beach property, le Gray Damour, is now on hold. Pity as a 2-centre would have been fabulous.