AFI Europe has officially started the development of its first Romanian retail park in Arad. The project will have a leasable area of 29,400 sqm and has already reached an occupancy rate of 70%. 

The new facility will be built on the basis of the former Galeria Ozimska, the largest tenant of which was a Tesco hypermarket. In the new facility, 18,000 sqm of leasable area (GLA), a shopping arcade will be built, which will be accompanied by a classic retail park. Scallier was jointly responsible for the project acquisition and the preparation of the commercialization concept. Currently, it supervises the commercialisation and manages the facility. The design stage is underway and preparations for the redevelopment of the complex are underway. The opening of Ozimska Park is planned for August 2023.

Czech construction company HSF System completed the construction of the second part of the retail park H-Park 2 in Brno as the general contractor. The investor was RLRE Carina Property. The financial volume of the project was approximately CZK 70 million (€2.8 million).

Around 120,000 sqm of retail projects are slated for delivery in the second half of 2022, although some projects could be delayed until the first part of 2023, especially if the developers meet certain difficulties with the construction or leasing process, according to real estate consultancy Colliers. 

At the end of June 2022, the supply of modern retail space in the Czech Republic amounted to almost 3.97 million sqm. Shopping centres take about 67%, retail parks 31% and outlets the remaining 2% of the market. During the first six months of 2022, the retail park construction boom has not stopped yet and the retail market expanded by 19,500 sqm. Over the last five years, the share of retail parks has increased by 5%. The largest completed project in the first six months of this year was Shopping Centre Řepy in Prague. Another 52,300 sqm of retail space is currently under construction across 12 projects, of which 31,200 sqm is expected to be completed this year, says JLL in its retail market report for Q2 2022.

The Slatina Shopping Park, located in Southern Romania, has reached a total commercial area of 8,700 sqm following an extension completed by Square 7 Properties and Mitiska REIM investment fund. 

The Japanese apparel brand is preparing to open its first pop-up store in Poland – in Domy Towarowe Wars Sawa Junior in the centre of Warsaw. The two-storey store in one of the most popular shopping destinations in central Warsaw is set to open this autumn.

Starting this summer, an unmanned Żabka Nano store operates in Aeropark Business Centre, owned by GTC. 

Hagag Development Europe has received the building permit for the consolidation and renovation works on Știrbei Palace located in central Bucharest. The developer will select a general contractor to start the transformation of the historical building in a high-end commercial gallery.

Square 7 Properties has started the construction of a new retail park in Giurgiu, with a gross lettable area of 7,000 sqm.