With the easing of the strict governmental regulations in Budapest, NEPI Rockcastle Group, the owner of Arena Mall and Mammut Shopping and Entertainment Center is starting to get back to its usual operation. The company has introduced further safety measures in their Budapest shopping centres.

On 20 May, owners Tristan Capital Partners and White Star Real Estate opened the retail part of the Elektrownia Powiśle mixed-use project in Warsaw to the public.

SES Spar European Shopping Centers has opened Aleja Center in Ljubljana on 20 May 2020. The €150 million investment serves as a mixed-use shopping and leisure hotspot. The centre was completed in March, but, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the originally planned opening date had to be postponed. The first shops with focus on local supply opened at the beginning of May, and the entire centre is set into full operation on 20 May. The Planet Lollipop children's adventure world and part of Aleja SKY are scheduled to open at a later date.  

Crestyl Real Estate is planning to start the construction of the 39,000 sqm Savarin mixed-use redevelopment project in Prague’s historic centre this autumn, local daily E15 reports. The project, based on the plans of the Heatherwick Studio, will see the construction of new office, retail, leisure and entertainment space within the original Baroque palace, riding hall and its courtyards

Shopping centres in Poland were reopened on 4 May. This is an indication that there’s light at the end of the tunnel for landlords and tenants, but the ongoing pandemic will have an enormous impact on the entire retail industry. Sylwia Wiszowata-Łazarz and Joanna Kłusek from Cushman & Wakefield talked about the current market situation, changing consumer habits and what actions to take to ensure a safe return of shoppers to brick-and-mortar stores.

Electro-IT and home & deco online retailers take up approximately 370,000 sqm of storage space and this volume could increase by at least 50% in the next two years, due to the development of online commerce, reveals the Romania e-commerce research report launched by CBRE.

Retail which continues to evolve in response to changing consumer preferences and expectations has once again to adapt to the new reality quickly. The global pandemic has left many stores and restaurants shuttered. Industry forecasts that a number of brands will permanently close this year. Every day brings a set of new challenges as we navigate this unexpected crisis. How are the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic impacting retail? Cushman & Wakefield Poland tried to answer this question in its latest report.

Neinver reopened its five outlet centres in Poland on 4 May under strict health and safety measures and with over 80% of their shops open. The Factory centres in Warsaw, Krakow, Gliwice and Poznan have implemented reopening plans in close coordination with the brands and authorities to ensure the maximum safety of employees and visitors.

In Q1 2020, approximately 50,000 sqm of modern retail space was delivered to the market in Poland. The construction of four schemes was completed: Galeria Chełm (17,500 sqm), Stop Shop Siedlce (14,100 sqm), Galeria Kupiecka in Otwock (10,000 sqm) and Vendo Park Jawor (6,700 sqm). However, due to the onset of the coronavirus epidemic, the new shopping centres have limited possibilities to serve consumers, in the same as all large retails facilities in Poland.

According to a recent report published by Cresa, portfolio transactions are on the rise on the Polish retail market. Two of last year’s three largest commercial real estate transactions were retail portfolio deals: the €600 million acquisition of the shopping centre portfolio from Cromwell Polish Retail Fund by Cromwell Property Group and the disposal of Atrium Koszalin and Atrium Felicity to ECE Group for €298 million.