Property group Immofinanz says it has sold the former retail project Armonia Center Arad to investment fund Oresa for an undisclosed sum. The buyer plans to develop a mixed-use scheme with industrial and retail components.

The pandemic has already shaped shopping habits and will continue to do so, mainly because of the strong impact it has had and is having at a psychological level, shifting personal priorities. Sebastian Mahu, Head of Asset Management, IULIUS Company talked to Property Forum about the trends driving Romania’s retail market and shared the developer’s plans for the future.

The former EuroCenter shopping centre, currently being rebuilt by Wing, will be renamed GOBUDA Mall after the renovation. The building will re-open in the spring of 2022 according to plans.

French real estate group Catinvest will add 5,500 sqm retail space, 1,200 sqm for a shared open-air terrace for the food court and a new playground of 500 sqm in Electroputere Mall, located in Craiova. 

Shopping malls need to boost their leisure propositions, while retailers must enhance their omnichannel strategies, mentioned speakers during the retail panel of SEE Property Forum 2021, Property Forum's annual event in Bucharest. 

The figures describing the performance of shopping centres that Cushman & Wakefield has available (primarily for small to medium-sized centres in Czech regions) show a positive trend. Following the full reopening of shops in shopping centres this May and June, both revenue and footfall were higher than the figures from the same period last year and the trend carried over to the summer holidays. Compared with 2020, July revenue grew by 3% and August revenue by 11%. Compared with the pre-crisis year 2019, July revenue was 2% lower, but in August it was almost 7% higher.

BIG Shopping Centers Ltd., the controlling shareholder (~95%) of BIG CEE, successfully raised NIS 205 million (approx. €55 million) by issuing secured bonds in the Israeli stock exchange by refinancing the following shopping centres: BIG Fashion Kragujevac, BIG Kruševac and BIG Fashion Outlet Inđija.

Indotek Group has modernised three of its malls, Szeged Plaza, Kaposvár Plaza and Szolnok Plaza, for nearly HUF 2 billion. The property group began its shopping mall renovation programme with the aim of creating buildings even more in line with the needs of tenants and shoppers by modernising the external façades and interior spaces. The three updated malls now await visitors with a modern exterior, a new environment, and new stores and services.

The first modern regional shopping centre in Prešov, the third biggest city in Slovakia, is opening a second stage on 23 September. JTRE’s expanded EPERIA Shopping Mall will include new fashion brands, restaurants, and a multiplex cinema, with the retail area increasing by 50%.  The shopping centre will provide visitors with a wide range of customer services, more parking spaces, and new indoor and outdoor relaxation zones.

Etele Plaza is going to open its doors to the public at 10 AM on September 17, 2021. Budapest’s latest shopping and entertainment centre located in the immediate vicinity of Etele square, Kelenföld will offer a range of stores and services. Futureal’s €300 million development is also the first smart shopping centre in Hungary.