Futureal, owner of the Etele Plaza shopping centre in Budapest, has signed a €165 million loan agreement with a consortium comprising Erste Bank Hungary, Erste Group Bank and UniCredit Bank Hungary. The refinancing extends the loan maturity to 2035.

After almost two years of reconstruction, PSN is reopening the modernist Grand Palace in Pardubice to the public. The company has created a modern department store that combines history with today's urban life.

After almost two years of construction, EPG Group has completed the modernisation and expansion of the Varyáda shopping centre in the Karlovy Vary region. The reconstruction has been managed with the shopping centre in full operation.

Construction has begun on the region's newest Stop Shop retail park in the city centre of Salgótarján, Hungary. The project is developed by CPI Hungary.

Zenit Corso, a new community center in Budapest's Zuglo district, is scheduled to open its doors on October 16. Located behind Bosnyak Square, the development functions not only as a shopping centre but also as a modern urban promenade, featuring stores from numerous well-known brands.

Nepi Rockcastle has inaugurated its first photovoltaic park in Chișineu-Criș, Arad County, Romania, marking a milestone in the shopping centre developer's sustainability efforts.

Redstone has completed the acquisition of the Olympia Olomouc shopping centre at the end of September. The seller is CCPEPF Poland Intermediate S.à r.l., which is part of the Catalyst Capital investment and management group.

Romania is positioning itself as a key retail market in Central and Eastern Europe, with developers shifting focus from large cities to smaller communities, according to a Colliers report. While large cities previously concentrated three quarters of modern retail stock, rising incomes and demand for modern formats are making communities of around 50,000 inhabitants attractive for new investment, with retail parks driving development.

Prague maintains its position among Europe's most expensive shopping destinations, ranking 16th with monthly rents of €220 per sqm, according to Colliers' latest survey on rental trends in prime shopping streets across the EMEA region.

Poland's retail park sector has experienced remarkable growth, with over 290 large retail parks now operating across the country, totalling 3.2 million sqm of space. This represents a 21% share of modern retail stock, double the share recorded in 2010, Avison Young Poland reports.