shopping center

Westfield Shopping City Süd is taking the next big step in its sustainability efforts: Austria’s largest and most diverse shopping center has been awarded “Better Places Certification”, the first comprehensive sustainability standard for shopping centers that also covers environmental and social aspects.

The Main-Taunus-Zentrum welcomes another attraction: a new “Food Garden” opened in the shopping center in Sulzbach near Frankfurt am Main, planned and fully let after a construction period of around 15 months.

Westfield Überseequartier in Hamburg’s HafenCity officially opened its doors on April 8. By combining retail and experience concepts, Überseequartier could become a tourism magnet and economic driver that will further strengthen Hamburg as a metropolis. However, this success is not guaranteed for Hamburg, as there is also the danger of a weakening of the city center.

The time has finally come: the new giant shopping mall Westfield Hamburg Überseequartier has opened. The Mayor of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher, URW CEO Jean-Marie Tritant and Theda Juliane Mustroph, General Manager of Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, symbolically cut the ribbon. With the 100,000 sq m mall and a promising gastronomy and entertainment concept, URW wants to set new standards in Hamburg.

The shopping malls managed by SES Spar European Shopping Centers (SES) once again exceeded the excellent performance of the previous year in 2024: The retailers, restaurants and service providers in the SES malls generated gross sales revenue of 3.54 billion euros in 2024. This corresponds to an increase of 6.5% compared to 2023, meaning that the SES centers in Austria and Slovenia outperformed the market as a whole.

Bata Group, the renowned shoe brand, is expanding its global presence and has now opened its doors for the first time in Germany at the Isenburg-Zentrum in Neu-Isenburg.

The 2025 travel season is picking up speed and the ALEXA at Berlin’s Alexanderplatz is already seeing a significant increase in international visitors. The shopping center, which is owned by Union Investment and managed by Sonae Sierra is benefiting greatly from the ongoing recovery in Berlin tourism after the pandemic. With targeted concepts for national and international guests, ALEXA is consolidating its position as a premium destination at Alexanderplatz.

Austria’s largest shopping center kicked off the spring season with two special events. For the first time, Westfield Shopping City Süd teamed up with STYLE UP YOUR LIFE! for the Westfield Club Shopping Night, where selected stores offered extended opening hours exclusively for Westfield Club members. Immediately afterwards, all fashion enthusiasts had the opportunity to discover the latest trends of the season at the Colorful Spring Days.

Over the past twelve months, there has been significant progress toward sustainability in the European shopping center landscape. According to the latest RegioData analysis, a clear trend has emerged: an increase in environmental certifications and a decline in non-certified buildings. This not only highlights the transformation in the construction industry but also underscores the growing importance of ecological standards.

Hamburg is preparing for its new shopping highlight with the opening date of the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier on April 8 being just around the corner. In combination with a wide range of gastronomy, entertainment and cultural offerings, the official opening of the center will establish a new shopping and lifestyle destination that is unique in northern Germany and offers exceptional experiences for both the local community and all visitors.

Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier continues to set standards in the retail sector by combining a differentiated selection of flagship stores from major international and national brands with more local, individual concepts. In combination with a wide range of food&beverage, entertainment and cultural offerings, this will create a new shopping and lifestyle destination that is unique in northern Germany and offers exceptional experiences for both the local community and all visitors.

Union Investment announced another leasing success in Essen, Germany: Sports specialist Intersport Voswinkel has secured around 2,000 sq m on the second floor of the Limbecker Platz shopping center for ten years.

“Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier could emerge as a refreshing beacon of culinary innovation and diversity”, states Will Odwarka, F&B-expert, founder and CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting and member of the ACROSS Advisory Board. He takes a close look at the recently announced differentiation of the F&B offering at Hamburg’s new shopping destination. With this diverse concept he is positive that Hamburg will be able to show the power of food to cultivate community spirit.

As the potential for retailers to generate footfall themselves is becoming more limited, shopping centers in Germany need to closely examine their own management strategies, and their approach to repositioning, revealed an expert panel at the joint press conference “Outlook Retail Real Estate 2025”, as they examined the German commercial real estate market’s current challenges and opportunities.