Regardless of the problems that the measures related to the coronavirus crisis have brought to the retail segment – with shops in Czechia closed for 234 days, the longest period in all of Europe – new brands keep coming to the local market. Nine of them have arrived or will arrive during the first half of the year, the most prominent one of them being Ireland’s Primark fashion chain whose shop opening was expected with a great deal of anticipation.

Bluehouse sold the Korso Karviná shopping centre (in the Northern Moravian region of the Czech Republic, east of Ostrava) to local investor Conseq Investment Management in this year’s first shopping centre transaction on the Czech market.  

A new shopping centre, part of the multifunctional Bořislavka Centrum complex developed by KKCG Group, is set to open in Prague on June 4. Located next to the Bořislavka metro station, the centre will feature approximately 9,000 sqm of retail space.

Wood & Company has obtained a loan of €229.5 million, one of the highest amounts in the Slovak real estate market, to refinance the debt of the Aupark shopping centre in Bratislava. The financing will be provided by several European banking groups, all of which have operated historically in Slovakia. 

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. 

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.

EuroCenter owner and developer Wing has selected Bernecker Kft. to carry out general contractor tasks for the modernisation of the 46,000 sqm shopping centre located in the northern Buda area. The shopping centre has closed for the duration of the renovations and is scheduled to reopen in spring 2022, boasting a modern appearance and ready to meet 21st-century customer demands. Construction work begins in late April.

The interior of the Campona shopping centre in South Buda, owned by CPI Property Group,  will be completely rebuilt by the end of 2021.

Wood & Company, together with its JV partner Tatra Asset Management, has announced the acquisition of the Aupark Bratislava shopping centre in Slovakia from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. The completion of the transaction is expected during the first half of this year and is subject to standard conditions precedent, such as competition clearance.

Eurovea 2 obtained one of the largest real estate loans in Slovakia in recent years. Funding in the amount of €116 million will be used for the construction of the extension of the Eurovea shopping centre and the adjacent Pribinova X office building. Construction work by JTRE on both buildings is in full swing. The loan is provided by a syndicate of banks led by Tatra banka, together with Slovenská sporiteľňa and UniCredit Bank. The contract documentation was prepared by Dentons.