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.

Centrum Handlowe Korona in Wrocław, one of Poland's first multifunctional shopping centres, is expanding its offering to better meet customer needs. Recently, a new brand joined CH Korona's tenants, and three stores reopened with fresh concepts.

M Core has started development of M Park Galați, the city's first retail park, on a 100,000 sqm plot acquired in December 2024.

Froo Romania Retail, part of Zabka Group, has opened a new Froo store in the America House office building in Bucharest's Piata Victoriei area. The lease transaction was brokered by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

The sale of the Bory Mall shopping and entertainment centre from Penta Real Estate's portfolio has been completed. The transaction has been approved by the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic, thus completing a process that took more than a year.

Romanian developer Iulius has begun the first phase of a major modernisation project for the Palas mixed-use complex in Iași. 

CPI Hungary has kicked off the development of a new Stop Shop retail park in Salgótarján, which will be slated for delivery in Q1 2027. 

Poznań-based company Scallier, specialising in retail project development and management in Poland and Romania, has completed the sale of another commercial property developed in partnership with PKB Inwest Budowa.