Victoria's Secret's first "real" Czech store - so far an outlet has only operated at Prague's airport - is to open in Prague’s Westfield Chodov shopping centre in May this year, Cushman & Wakefield announced.

According to a Cushman & Wakefield report, the retail real estate sector saw the continued expansion of retail parks in 2022, accounting for 70% of new supply delivered to the market. Despite many challenges related to inflation and general economic uncertainty, 14 new brands made their debut in Poland during the year. However, the next few months may experience a downturn in consumer sentiment, with lower retail sales, and in turn, reduced turnover for retail tenants.

Cushman & Wakefield has taken over the management of the Atrium Flora shopping centre in Prague Vinohrady, owned by G City Europe (formerly Atrium European Real Estate), as of 1 January 2023.

Primark's first Hungarian store which will be opened in NEPI Rockcastle's Arena Mall shopping centre in Budapest is part of the ongoing expansion of the global retail chain.

Some 100,000 sqm of new retail spaces were delivered last year in Romania, of which 80% were integrated in retail parks, while new projects with a leasable area of around 230,000 sqm are expected in 2023, which would be a 6-year high, according to Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Property group NEPI Rockcastle, the largest owner of shopping centres in Romania, has secured a green loan totalling €‎60 million for Ploiești Shopping City from a syndicate of banks. 

This is the first shopping centre in Hungary to be given such an award in the construction phase. The property, developed by the Hungarian company Futureal was opened in late 2021. 

The Czech retail market once again proved its appeal to retail brands, with 38 new arrivals last year. That is the same figure as in 2021 when the influx of 38 new brands was partly the result of the postponement of some entries due to the pandemic. These numbers represent a roughly 50% increase compared to 2019 (22 brands) and 2020 (25 brands), according to the Cushman & Wakefield analysis of the Czech retail market in 2022.

Immofinanz has significantly expanded its retail portfolio in the 2022 financial year. As a result of acquisitions and completions, the portfolio has grown from 111 to 169 locations in ten European countries over the course of the year, with a carrying amount of approximately €2.3 billion (excluding S Immo). Rentable space increased by nearly 30% to approximately 1.36 million sqm.

Slovak construction company HSF System SK has completed the general delivery of two more shopping centres in Slovakia. In Kysucke Nové Mesto, which is located in the Žilina region, the shopping gallery Obchodná galéria Naša was opened to the public. In Košice, a new SIKO shopping centre was built.