Smaller retail facilities up to 20,000 sqm, such as parks, have proved their resilience to the pandemic in Central and Eastern Europe and remain attractive for investors. In Poland, 170,000 sqm of new supply in retail parks is planned for 2021, with 120,000 sqm in Romania, and 70,000 sqm in the Czech Republic, according to CBRE data. In all countries in the region, consumers and investors appreciate their locality, with development opportunities in small towns, supplying the most important needs and ensuring greater safety in the pandemic.

Developer Fashion House has opened its second outlet centre in Bucharest following an investment of €25 million. The project is located in the eastern part of the city and spans over 12,000 sqm. 

German retailer Metro Cash&Carry will expand its logistics centre in Ștefăneștii de Jos, near Bucharest, in a bid to cover higher distribution demands and sales in its network. 

Alza.cz and Rohlik.cz are launching a cooperation. Customers of the largest Czech online supermarket can have their purchases delivered to selected AlzaBoxes. The boxes involved are specially adapted to keep the food ordered fresh.

Hungarian developer Futureal will open the food court of the Etele Plaza shopping centre in Budapest this September. The food court will feature a direct connection to the roof terrace, unique interior design and a wide selection of gastronomy options, including many popular quick-service restaurants, cafés and an open kitchen concept.

Trei Real Estate GmbH just opened four new retail parks under the Vendo Park brand in Poland. The retail properties are located in Zielonka in the Masovian voivodeship, Piekary Śląskie in the Silesian voivodeship as well as in Koszalin and Myślibórz, two towns in the West Pomeranian voivodeship. Taken together, the new Vendo Parks have a gross lettable area of around 19,800 square metres and a total of 26 units, including several branches of brands like Dealz or Action which previously had no outlets in these towns and which therefore broaden the local retail spectrum. Overall, Trei invested c. €27 million in these properties.

Austrian real estate group Immofinanz will start the refurbishment of shopping centre VIVO! Baia Mare on June 1. The works on the project located in northern Romania will cover more than 10,000 sqm, which is one third of the total surface of the centre. 

In the 11 shopping streets under the umbrella of the Shopping Street Management (BUM), some 90% of businesses survived the coronavirus pandemic, and the number of stores for sale or rent is decreasing in more and more places, BUM told Hungarian news wire MTI based on its survey carried out at the beginning of May.

Retailer Penny, part of Rewe Group, has announced a long-term investment program in Romania that includes the expansion of the store network and the development of logistics operations. 

Shopping centre footfall in February in Poland, prior to the fourth lockdown, averaged approximately 80% of last year’s levels. Shoppers will return to shopping centres once restrictions are lifted, say experts of Cushman & Wakefield.