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The ALEXA shopping and leisure center in Berlin-Mitte can look back on an extremely positive 2024. The center, which is owned by Union Investment and managed by Sonae Sierra, was able to further expand its position as one of the most attractive retail locations in Germany with 17 new leases and 18 lease extensions and was named Germany’s best inner-city center. Further optimizations are planned for 2025.

Union Investment, owner of the Köln Arcaden shopping center in Germany, is planning to develop the site into a new mixed-use quarter. The preliminary planning envisages around 108 apartments, some privately financed and some publicly subsidized, as well as senior citizens’ apartments, a facility with care places for senior citizens and office space for a total of around 800 employees.

SES sets a strong example for sustainable management and environmental protection with the successfully introduced comprehensive environmental management system and received ISO 14001 certification from TÜV AUSTRIA. This applies to both the SES headquarters and 15 SES shopping malls in Austria.

“The greatest challenge for our industry in the following years will be to stay in the minds of customers on a permanent basis,” states Klaus Striebich, Managing Director of RaRE Advise, and Head of the ACROSS Advisory Board, in the new “Outlook 2025” edition.

In an interview with ACROSS, Joachim Stumpf, Managing Director of BBE Holding and IPH Handelsimmobilien, analyzes the role of retail real estate in light of the current economic and social situation. His conclusion: “The advancing polarization is a key issue when we discuss what options we have to counter the transformation in retail. Against this backdrop, we also need to rethink retail and locations. Despite all the challenges, good and individual types of use can be found for all properties – but getting there can be painful.”

Coresight Research, a research and advisory firm specializing in retail and technology, and NextRivet, a digital innovation and implementation consultancy specializing in retail real estate, announced their strategic partnership and the launch of CoreRivet. The CoreRivet service is designed to empower retail and real estate executives with actionable insights and cutting-edge technologies that drive sales growth, operational efficiencies, and elevated customer engagement.

Westfield Forum des Halles is a 77,600sqm flagship shopping center located in the heart of Paris. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has sold a 15% stake to CDC Investissement Immobilier, the real estate arm of French public financial institution Caisse des Dépôts (CDC).

Over the past couple of years, it has become evident that retail is seeing a significant resurgence. This is across shopping centers, large destination indoor malls, and retail parks and outlets, explains Mark Bruce, Data & Insights Director at Mallcomm. While some may have dismissed the retail sector, others have recognized that despite some challenges, there is a great opportunity.

Ingka Centres Futures is looking for partners to shape the future of retail. By collaborating with businesses of all sizes, the platform is transforming traditional shopping spaces into vibrant community hubs where people can connect, explore, and experience retail in a whole new way.

Over the past decade, the retail landscape has undergone a seismic transformation redefining the very essence of the sector. Customers’ expectations of convenience, personalization, experience, community, and sustainability have changed dramatically. The purpose of physical stores is being redefined, with goods and products taking a backseat to experiences. Today, successful retail destinations are those that cultivate connection, joy, and community.

With the opening of the ‘HOUSE OF SILHOUETTE’ on December 2, the renowned eyewear manufacturer Silhouette Group is setting new standards for premium optics in Vienna on the occasion of its 60th anniversary. In a historic building at the prestigious address Herrengasse 1, an exclusive store awaits visitors, allowing them to immerse themselves in the world of premium eyewear.

Retail is polarizing towards the absolute top locations, among them metropolitan locations, and A-cities. There are many cases proving this but there are also exceptions – and not just any, but successful exceptions. The recent DeepTalk online-discussion took a closer look at one such exception and looked a little behind the letting and positioning strategies of the Europa-Galerie Saarbrücken in Germany, one of the outstanding best-practice examples.