The retail market in Romania has room for growth, considering that short-to-long term pipeline exceeds 800,000 sqm, consisting of projects under construction or in different permitting stages, which are due to be completed by the end of the decade. 

There are 4.5 million square meters of modern shopping space in Romania and there is still room for development as investors are still interested in the Romanian market. In terms of total retail space per capita, Romania is still behind other European countries, explained the speakers of the retail panel of SEE Property Forum 2024.

W. P. Carey, a leading net lease REIT specialising in corporate sale-leasebacks, build-to-suits and the acquisition of single-tenant net lease properties, has announced the sale-leaseback of 123 retail stores in Poland. 114 stores were acquired in July, with the remaining nine stores acquired in September. The portfolio is triple-net leased to Żabka, a leading Polish convenience retailer, for a term of 20 years.

WOOD & Company has announced the completion of the acquisition process of the Aupark Bratislava shopping centre. At the same time, it has invested in its expansion with the public opening last week.

Jacek Wesołowski, Managing Director of Trei Real Estate Poland, has talked to Property Forum about the rising popularity of retail parks in Polish cities, the expansion in the PRS market and the challenges for the coming years.

Park Lane Developments and Mitiska REIM have purchased a second plot of land in Sofia’s Nadezhda district to develop a new retail park.

Cushman & Wakefield has summarised the situation on the Polish retail market for the third quarter of 2024, which saw a continuation of strong development activity, with new openings dominated by retail parks. The three months leading up to September marked the first quarter in the history of the Polish market in which one retail format accounted for the entire new supply. Retail market sentiment remained robust amid a growing number of brand debuts and strong retail sales, shopping centre footfall and turnover growth.

Polish convenience store chain Żabka made its highly anticipated debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, offering 448 million shares and raising PLN 6.99 billion (€1.6 billion), with the potential to increase to PLN 7.42 billion (€1.7 billion) The debut was marked by a 7% stock price rise.

Affan Yildirim, General Manager, member of the Board of Directors of Anchor Grup, and member of the Board of Directors of MallDova, talked to Property Forum about the trends shaping the Romanian retail market and the investments made in București Mall over the past 25 years to accommodate evolving demands of tenants and shoppers. 

Ozimska Park, a 17,000 sqm GLA facility built in Opole by Redkom Development and delivered in November 2023, has been sold. The new owner is Newgate Investment, which is successively expanding its portfolio of retail properties. It currently includes 33 projects located in various Polish cities. The price has not been disclosed.