Before the official opening, a press conference was held in the new part of the shopping center with a tour of premises. The expanded section will open to the public at 7 PM, with night shopping until midnight and opening benefits lasting until Saturday. The opening includes free concerts by Slovenian stars such as Klemen Slakonja, Marko Stankovič, ViP Band, Amaya, and Lea Sirk, followed by eco-friendly fireworks and a show by Parov Stelar.
The press conference was attended by Zdravko Počivalšek, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and Minister of Economic Development and Technology, Zoran Janković, Mayor of Ljubljana, and Frank Philipp Albert, founder of the Supernova Group.
Slovenia is one of the most important markets for the Supernova Group. The company’s goal is to develop smartly and make strategic acquisitions with the aim of further growth. Frank Philipp Albert, founder of Supernova says: “By focusing on the long term, partnership, and continuous development, we enable ourselves and our tenants to maximize added value and to offer our customers a holistic experience. Over the 20 years of business, customer habits have changed and we are constantly adapting to new trends. Shopping alone is no longer enough; shopping centers are evolving into multifunctional and multi-tasking facilities.”
Zdravko Počivalšek, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and Minister of Economic Development and Technology, welcomed the major investment: “I am glad that the investors in the Supernova upgrade project have recognized the advantages that our country offers. Today’s event is, inter alia, a sign that, despite the epidemic situation of the last two years, new investments can and must continue.”
He also underlined the importance of the project for the Slovenian economy: “The fact that with the opening of the new part of the center you are planning to employ 800 people is very encouraging, both in terms of the growth and development of your shopping center and in terms of employment and job creation. At the same time, this new investment is also an opportunity to increase consumption and have a multiplier effect on economic growth. I also welcome the fact that the new part of the shopping centre will be built aligned with the latest environmental standards. This is particularly important at the time when the whole European economy is shifting towards green and sustainable operations.”
Zoran Janković, Mayor of Ljubljana added: “I am delighted that despite the challenges we have faced over the past two years, you have managed to open such a beautiful facility on schedule. I am convinced that this project goes beyond traditional shopping and is becoming a center for socializing.”
International and Local Brands
The newly built part is fully integrated with the existing center, the total area is 50,000 sq m on a 65,000 sq m plot. With additional 50 stores spread over two floors, it will have a total of 109 stores of local and international brands.
Popular brands such as Sport Vision, Deichman, NewYorker, Intersport, Felix Opticians, SOliver, Odeja, Top Shop, Mass, Humanic, and Bags&More will be presented with a renewed or expanded offer, while some of the most visible brands in Rudnik, such as Mercator, will be presented with a specially selected offer at the time of the opening. Among the brands that are being presented for the first time are Half price, Betty Barclay, dm drugstore, Mr. Pet, Samsonite, Alpina, original sneakers Buzz, US Polo, Ccc, Katja pro, and haberdashery Office&more.
Cinema, Amusement Parks, Children’s Playground
One of the major attractions of the so-called entertainment area will be the seven-screen Cineplexx multiplex cinema, which opens before the summer, and a spacious 1,000 sq m fitness center, FiT 13, for exercise enthusiasts.
Special mention should also be made of the entertainment areas, which are open to all those who want to spend their leisure time actively. The children’s play area, Zumma kids, will be spread over 2,000 sq m and will open in the coming weeks, while 600 sq m will be dedicated to the WOOP! IZZIVI entertainment site. It is the ultimate team game, unique in Slovenia, which confronts team members with a series of fun tasks. In addition, an outdoor climbing wall, an outdoor playground and various sports areas will be available for children.
Enter the World of Tastes
With 19 restaurants and bars spread over two floors, there’s something for everyone’s taste. The ground floor is a collection of so-called street-style restaurants, united by an attractively furnished central dining area with communal seating and an outdoor terrace. Some of the more interesting offerings are McDonald’s, Chocolate Atelier Dobnik, Lolita, Mamu Sushi bar, Španska vas, and Vino & Ribe restaurant. The first floor has a concept of service-type restaurants, which will open fully over the next ten days, and each restaurant has its own terrace.
The Green Dot Project for a Greener Future
For more than 20 years, the Supernova Group has been focusing on the future. One of the main cornerstones is sustainable and environmentally friendly development, which has been underpinned by the Green Dot program. The program aims to optimize business practices and achieve full carbon neutrality by 2028.
At the heart of this strategy is the production of sustainable energy and the careful management of natural resources, which is what they strive for in the construction of their advanced facilities. 23 rooftop solar power plants have been commissioned in Slovenia and Austria, and another 56 will be set up across the Group by the end of 2023. On average, the green energy generated on the roofs of shopping centers covers on average 35% of the buildings’ energy consumption. In Slovenia, the company has 13 solar power plants, with the aim of increasing the number and equipping all buildings where it is possible.
Supernova Ljubljana Rudnik contributes to the Green Dot project with a new parking garage and an extended part of the shopping center, where the latest environmental standards were considered in the construction. The façade of the garage is covered with green areas in the form of vertical gardens, where full growth is expected in 2023. The entire shopping center and the garage are lit with energy-friendly LED technology, there are electric bike rental stations and chargers for electric cars in front of the shopping center, and a solar power plant is planned.
