Apsys is opening its latest project this summer — the revitalised Hala Targowa in Gdańsk, a 19th-century market hall being repositioned as a food and entertainment destination. The group has been building expertise in culinary-leisure formats across Poland and France for 30 years, with projects including Food Fyrtel at Posnania in Poznań and Boom Boom Villette in Paris — the first food & leisure concept of its kind in France, spanning 25,000 sqm at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie in the Parc de la Villette.
The €141 million renovation of the 1896 hall in Gdańsk's Old Town is built around an "all around food" concept. The basement level will house delicatessen and fresh produce retail, the ground floor a street food zone with 17 culinary concepts, and the upper floor waiter-service restaurants, complemented by three bars — 34 food and retail units in total. Two stages will host cultural and entertainment events, while outdoor spaces include Plac Dominikański, with a children's area, food trucks and an additional stage, and a fruit and vegetable market to the north.
"Gastronomy and entertainment are the fastest-growing categories in our properties. Food and leisure destinations are new centres of urban life — places where food becomes a reason to build relationships and spend time together. Hala Targowa reflects this idea, combining food with the history and identity of a place that has been part of Gdańsk life for over a hundred years," said Benoit Charles, CEO of Apsys Polska.
The restoration, carried out under heritage supervision, uncovered relics of a 12th-century Romanesque church, restored historic market kiosks to their original locations, and exposed brick pillars and sections of the original floor. Details such as hand-made painted tiles and recycled countertops embedded with amber reference Gdańsk's traditions. The hall will also feature an app for ordering from multiple outlets, mapping shows and a souvenir dispenser.
The business case for the format is supported by results from Food Fyrtel, which operates across around 1,800 sqm with 17 concepts and around 500 seats. "Data from 2023–2025 shows a clear shift — customers who initially visited occasionally are returning regularly. It's also an example of a successful transformation of a poorly performing zone into a modern food-and-lifestyle space," said Małgorzata Bączkiewicz, Food Hall Manager at Apsys Polska. Benoit Charles added: "Each project is not a replication of a proven formula, but an individual response to the character of the place and the needs of its surroundings."
