SWITZERLAND
Globus Basel
Liegenschaften-Betrieb AG, part of the Migros Group and owner of the properties rented by Globus at Marktplatz 1 in Basel, has recently submitted a general building application for the comprehensive renovation of the historic department store. The traditional location is home to one of the largest retail areas in the entire city center. It consists of various properties from different eras and has been continuously modified and expanded over the years. The overall condition of the building structures and the technical installations makes a comprehensive renovation necessary. With the submission of the general building application, the first important step towards the approval of the planned conversion has been taken. The remaining details concerning the conversion work and further procedures will be worked out at a later stage. Basel-based architectural firm Miller Maranta has been commissioned to develop the measures in a manner that respects the history of the building and its location. Magazine zum Globus AG took over the building three years following its construction in 1904 and has now been running the traditional department store for around 110 years. The announced renovation will further set Migros on the road to a successful future for its properties and retail space. The investment will be made regardless of whether the announced sale of Globus takes place with or without real estate. For the time being, nothing will change for customers. Business at Globus Basel will continue as usual.
POLAND
MMG Centers Kołobrzeg
MMG Centers Kołobrzeg, a Master Management Group project, has recently obtained a valid building permit. A thought-out architectural concept, which includes a convenient communication system and the first Planet Cinema (four screens) in the city in northern Poland, is in response to the constantly growing demands posed by inhabitants and tourists. In accordance with a legally binding decision, a commercial and entertainment facility featuring road and transport infrastructure will be built on a plot at the junction of Bolesława Chrobrego and Bolesława Krzywoustego Streets in Kołobrzeg, near the S6 route and national road No. 11. As a result, access to the mall from the city center and surrounding towns will be easy. Comfortable shopping will be ensured by a simple building communication system and a parking garage that provides 370 parking spaces. MMG Centers Kołobrzeg will offer 13,200 sq m of retail space for a numerous fashion stores, including popular sports brands, as well as a food court comprised of well-known fast food restaurants. Fifty stores will be located on the ground floor, together with a play area for kids and a section devoted to leisure.
UNITED KINGDOM
Brookfield Riverside
Broxbourne Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council have selected Sovereign Centros as their development partner for a £400 million mixed-use scheme at Brookfield Riverside in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. With its proximity and connectivity to central London, it is perceived to be attractive to potential occupiers. The development will create a new identity for the area. Sovereign Centros’ appointment follows a competitive tendering exercise run by the Councils’ advisers, Cushman & Wakefield. The mixed-use nature of the scheme will recognize and address, in particular, how retailing and leisure is changing. Paul Ellis, Partner at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “This demonstrates that, despite the well-rehearsed challenges in the retail and leisure sectors at present, there remains strong interest in retail and leisure development, provided they are incorporated in the right overall scheme concept, that the opportunity itself has the right ingredients for success, and is structured in the right way.”
GERMANY
Centro
On July 11, 2019, Centro Oberhausen celebrated the completion of its two-year modernization project. Together with the CPP Investment Board, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) invested around 20 million euros in the refurbishment. Half of the investment sum was spent on the core of the refurbishment, the redesign of the Coca-Cola Oasis food court. Prior to the refurbishment, the Coca-Cola Oasis ranked among the most successful food courts in Europe. During the course of the renovation, it was further expanded and its attractiveness increased. From now on, a total of 1,300 seats and 20 restaurants will be located across a total area of 7,500 sq m on two floors. “URW’s destinations are characterized by a unique combination of design, a suitable marketing and event strategy, and an attractive range of tenants. A varied and tasty gastronomic offer is essential to raising the quality of stay at the center to the highest possible level and to increasing the length of stay of our visitors. We are, therefore, very pleased that the modernization work, especially in the food court, has been successfully completed and that the Centro is now radiant in its new splendor,” explained Paul-Eric Perchaud, Director of Operations at URW Germany.
POLAND
Dekada Nysa
Dekada Nysa shopping center will be located in the center of Nysa, which has a population of 50,000, in the vicinity of the market square and numerous traffic generators – railway and bus stations, the city office, the county office, and the “Nyski Dom Kultury” cultural center. The main artery of Nysa, Bema Street, is directly next to the facility. Customers will have 400 parking spaces at their disposal. The two-story scheme will be the largest commercial facility in the city, which is located in the Opole Province in the southwest of Poland. Visitors to Dekada Nysa, which boasts 19,000 sq m, will enjoy a comfortable shopping experience as well as a rich selection of brand stores and a wide range of services, which will enable them to find everything they need under one roof. The two floors of the shopping center will be comprised of 70 shops, a supermarket, drug stores, restaurants, cafes, a cinema, as well as numerous services. Construction is due to begin next year.
AUSTRIA
Millennium City
Major refurbishment of Millennium City in Vienna has recently begun. By 2020, a new Cineplexx cinema world, a “Flip Lab” trampoline park, a “Food Plaza” equipped with 1400 seats, an e-sports area packed with state-of-the-art technology, and much more will be built. In conjunction with existing facilities, such as the Holmes Place Fitness Center, Ocean Park, the “Monki Park” children’s world, and the A-Danceclub, Millennium City is expected to become a hot spot for singles, couples, and families. CC Real has been responsible for center management since 2014. Following the initial renovation phase in 2015/2016, in which the Main Plaza, the shopping corridors, and the food court were redesigned, CC Real is currently taking the next step in the refurbishment process. Center manager Hermann Jahn commented: “In the future, Millennium City will be much more than a traditional shopping destination. The expansion of the entertainment offering will transform it into a living room in which people can have dinner with friends, enjoy a movie together, test the latest games, and dance all night long.”
NETHERLANDS
Westfield Mall of the Netherlands
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s (URW) Westfield Mall of the Netherlands will be located in the Randstad area, the economic heart of the country, which includes four of the nation’s largest cities: Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Rotterdam. It is home to 6.8 m inhabitants (40% of the Dutch population) and welcomes the majority of the country’s 15 m annual tourists. The center will feature 280 stores, restaurants, and leisure outlets across 117,000 sq m, and, like the other flagship malls in the URW portfolio, offer opportunities beyond traditional retail with unique events and experiences. The destination will feature “The Gallery”, with boutique stores offering an aspirational mix of lifestyle brands and products across 3,000 sq m. Alongside retail, Westfield Mall of the Netherlands will feature a cinema and an area dedicated to food and drinks, including 22 dining options. The opening festivities are scheduled for 2020. Part of the development is already open, with the food concept “Fresh!” – a more than 2,500-square-meter buy-and-eat food market featuring 34 operators offering the best local high-street concepts and gastronomy.
RUSSIA
Mega Ekaterinburg
Ingka Centres has recently unveiled a major new park at its Mega Ekaterinburg mall in central Russia. The state-of-the-art park is part of the company’s wider vision to transform its shopping centers, which are located across the world, into vibrant “meeting places” for the next generation in a more omni-channel world. The 13,500-square-meter, €7.5 m park, has already become a favorite leisure destination for the locals, and it is set to become one of Ekaterinburg’s leading venues for festivals, concerts, open air cinema showings, and other events. In July, the park hosted Mega Fest, a major music festival that was attended by thousands of people. The park’s design at Mega Ekaterinburg was inspired by the nearby Ural Mountains and is divided into six themed zones that have been specially designed for recreation, meeting, and socializing. A central square serves as the park’s focal point and features a fountain, a café, and outdoor seating. The outdoor space features a “Hills” area with wooden walkways, attractive landscaping, and lots of greenery for those who want to escape the bustle of the city. For families, there are plenty of play areas, and for sports enthusiasts, there is a special workout zone that offers outdoor training spaces as well as table tennis.
ROMANIA
Mall Moldova
Romania’s second largest city, with purchasing power above the national average and growth potential, Iasi, is expected to experience accelerated development during the next decade. It is likely to attract more global employers annually as residents desire diversity in shopping, leisure, and entertainment. Strategically located at the western entrance to the city, in an expanding residential area, Mall Moldova – developed by Prime Kapital – is set to become the premiere shopping center for neighboring cities as well as visitors from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Mall Moldova was designed to meet the needs of the city’s young, modern, and dynamic residents. Prime Kapital is creating an all-day destination for visitors that covers 100,000 sq m of GLA and includes 300 stores, more than 40 restaurants, a fitness area, a children’s summer park, and IMAX and 4DX cinemas. The opening is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2020.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Citypark Jihlava
The only shopping center in the Vysočina Region, Citypark Jihlava, is undergoing an extensive transformation this year. Set in motion in April, the renovation project, which is worth more than CZK 100 m, is expected to conclude in the fall. Once finished, it will introduce the latest trends to the country’s smallest regional capital. Customers will be able to enjoy a variety of new brands as well as stunning views from a scenic lift. Citypark Jihlava, which is part of the CPI Property Group portfolio, is in the midst of an extensive reconstruction. The project’s modernization efforts are primarily focused on the interiors of the shopping center. “Renovation of the gallery has already begun. That work will be followed by a refit of the existing food court, which will entail a major overhaul as well,” said Aleš Navrátil, Asset Manager at CPI Property Group. “Once that has been completed, approximately 260 seats will be available, which amounts to about 60 more than what is currently in place. The entire catering area, which is due to become much lighter, will be partitioned into several separate zones to ensure more mealtime privacy. In line with our customers’ wishes and global trends, there will also be considerably more greenery in the gastronomy area,” added Navrátil. Customer comfort will get a boost from the installation of new bathroom facilities on the first underground floor, and the existing bathroom facilities will be refurbished. Getting around the shopping center’s four levels, from the parking garage to the top shopping gallery, will be made much more enjoyable thanks to the installation of a scenic lift.
