Rental activity in the Czech and European retail markets has significantly increased year-over-year, with a rise in the number of transactions and the volume of leased space across sectors and countries. A survey done by Cushman & Wakefield has analysed over 2,000 retail rental transactions in 13 European countries, including the Czech Republic.

The iconic building on the corner of Národní and Spálená streets in Prague, today Máj Národní, is starting to write a new chapter in its history. The two-year renovation, which transformed the original monofunctional Máj department store into Máj Národní, is coming to an end.

Empik in Cepelia, Decathlon City in the International Business Center, Bulgari, Luca, Carhartt and Le Szapo. Do the leases signed in Warsaw in recent months herald a high-street revival in Warsaw and beyond? High shopping centre density rates and shrinking retail availability bode well for it. In addition, Cushman & Wakefield notes that the Polish retail market is now going through a very interesting period of growth, with many tenants increasingly focusing on location diversification as new retail concepts and formats are emerging. This means that there is a real chance of a revival of high-street retail.

The Varyáda shopping centre in Karlovy Vary has been undergoing extensive modernisation and expansion. Construction works are taking place while the centre is in full operation.

Kaufland continues to expand in Europe and revitalizations are playing an increasingly central role in this. The integration of existing retail locations and modernization has increased recently in comparison to the construction of new buildings. In the Bulgarian capital Sofia, a very special revitalization has now been completed.

Cushman & Wakefield has taken over the management of the OC Opatovská shopping centre in Prague 4, owned by Conseq realitní fond.

Retail parks continue to attract strong investor interest and remain the most popular retail format on the development market. Meanwhile, new brands are entering the Polish retail market, which is also seeing the rise of AI-powered solutions, say BNP Paribas Real Estate experts in their latest report. 

Polish group Scallier has sold its retail project Funshop Park Turda in Turda to BT Property Alternative Investment Fund for an undisclosed amount.

On May 1st, Sierra Balmain assumed management of the Power Park Opole shopping centre. The company will be responsible for both technical and commercial property management.

White Star Real Estate has taken over the management of Galeria Sandecja in Nowy Sącz. This is another shopping center from the Focus Estate Fund portfolio, where WSRE assumes property management, and the first where it provides two management services in one facility for an external client.