Among others, Stradivarius is opening a new store at Westfield Centro next year, while the other Inditex brands Bershka and PULL&BEAR are modernizing and expanding their rental areas. Meanwhile, the conversion of the new 6,000 sq m unit for the future Zara flagship store is in full swing. Other fashion anchors are also establishing larger and updated store formats, such as New Yorker, which will triple its size, and Jack & Jones, which will also modernize its space. With these extensive partnerships, Westfield Centro is strengthening its position as the leading destination for flagship stores and state of the art store concepts of world-renowned brands.
In line with the positioning and leasing strategy for the asset, URW has also concluded partnerships with trend-conscious and premium brands that strengthen the depth and diversity of the branch mix. For example, Motel a Miio, Le Creuset, Feature, Glambou, Lounge Underwear, The North Face, UYN, Cabaia, Franky Brown Vintage and Verge Motorcycles have already opened stores or signed new lease agreements.
Katharina Zeiler, Director of Leasing Austria & Germany at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, says: “In recent weeks and months, we have added further highlights to the already very attractive and industry-leading brand mix at Westfield Centro, and we are continuing on this path with our plans for 2025. The opening of a whole series of new top brands demonstrates the exceptional positioning of Westfield Centro and its appeal far beyond the region limits. National and international brands see the destination as the central location for the implementation of flagship stores and the latest store concepts or for a market entry in Germany.”
Flagship formats with anchor partners
The Inditex brand Stradivarius is expanding its footprint in the German brick and mortar retail at Westfield Centro and will open in the second half of 2025. Bershka has expanded its previous rental area of 600 sq m to almost 1,000 sq m and already opened at the end of October, while PULL&BEAR is also expanding to around 1,000 sq m from its original 670 sq m. Both brands are establishing their latest store concepts.
A year ago, URW announced that Zara would be relocating within the center and expanding considerably. Extensive construction work will create a flagship store with 6,000 sq m of rental area on a central axis on the ground floor of the shopping and leisure destination, which is around double the current space.
Another fashion anchor, New Yorker, is also significantly expanding its space, from the current 930 sq m to 3,000 sq m. The expansion will be accompanied by major refurbishment work, which will be completed in 2026. Additionally, the Bestseller brands Jack & Jones and Vero Moda are also making changes. Jack & Jones will modernize its store into a flagship format during the first quarter of 2025, while Vero Moda has extended its contract for the ground floor unit on a long-term basis.
Further strengthening of the branch mix
The trend ceramics manufacturer Motel a Miio opened its first store in a German shopping center in October. Le Creuset, known for its cast-iron pots and other cookware in bright colors, has been expanding the offer in the center’s premium segment since September. The street fashion label Feature also launched its first store in North Rhine-Westphalia in September and the jewelry retailer Glambou will open its first stand-alone store in Germany in the second quarter of 2025. Lounge Underwear, the trend underwear label from England, which was originally only sold online and then started opening stores in its home market, has also launched its market entry in Germany at Westfield Centro. The DNVB’s (digital native vertical brand) store was also the first outside the UK.
Outdoor brand The North Face opened the doors to a new store back in the summer. It is the brand’s only store in the German URW portfolio. UYN, provider of technical sportswear for cycling and skiing, for example, will be coming to Westfield Centro in December as a new addition and with the first full-price store nationally.
Cabaia, a brand for backpacks and travel accessories, consistently focuses on sustainability and corporate responsibility in production, transportation and sales. The opening took place at the end of November. Franky Brown Vintage, the store opened in mid-December, is the first permanent second-hand store in the centre and the brand’s first store in Germany, strengthening Westfield Centro’s profile in the area of sustainable consumption. Verge Motorcycles, a pioneer in the manufacture of electric motorcycles, also celebrated its market entry in Germany in the summer with an experience-oriented flagship store and also underlines the ongoing increase in the diversity of the sector and product range.
“We are delighted to welcome so many exciting new brands and concepts to Westfield Centro, says Andreas Ulmer, General Manager Westfield Centro. “The current dynamic of new openings as well as store expansions and modernizations underlines the unique positioning of Westfield Centro in the region, but also in retail in general. Our visitors can look forward to even more choice, variety and brand experiences under one roof.”
