Kiddo Play Academy, a company which specializes in family entertainment, will open its second playground in Bucharest on the 1st of June, on an area of approximately 1,200 sqm in ParkLake Shopping Center. The leasing negotiations were conducted by Colliers International Romania.
„In the past years, shopping centres have started to allocate more and more space for the entertainment area, regardless of their size or positioning. In some cases, significant sums of money are invested in their refurbishment. Only a cinema and a small playground, in a project aiming to be dominant, no longer comply with the requirements of the clients. ParkLake Shopping Center is visited by a large number of families and the proximity to the park creates an exciting mix of activities both indoors and outdoors. By including Kiddo Play Academy in the tenant mix, ParkLake Shopping Center follows the trend of malls becoming actual destinations to spend one’s free time”, Venera Munjev, Senior Associate Retail Agency at Colliers International Romania said.
Kiddo Play Academy is a playground with a concept called EDUTAINMENT (educational entertainment). It has been created especially for children to develop their abilities, talents and knowledge the way they like – through games and new experiences. The new location adds to the one already known in the northern area of Bucharest (in Baneasa Shopping City), opened in 2014, on an area of approximately 1,200 sqm. The entrepreneurs behind the project are Cristina Alexandru-Sucu and Vlad Alexandru.
The new playground in ParkLake Mall will be inaugurated on June 1st, on the 1st floor, on an area of approximately 1,200 sqm, with nature as the main theme. The locations will resume some of the attractions in Baneasa, but will bring many new elements and experiences. Visitors will find, in adapted forms, climbing mania (climbing area) where children can climb a giant beanstalk, adventure softplay (an obstacle structure covered in sponge) which will also include a donut-slide (a slide with mattresses) or lasermaze. One of the new attractions will be the mini-bowling area, specially designed for children. The location will also include a restaurant with a menu based on healthy meals and a bar area as a relaxation area for parents. With a capacity of 300 children at the same time, the space is suitable for birthday parties, school holidays or corporate events, with specially designed areas for them.
„As the retail market matures and expansion is no longer the primary focus, we should expect to see both malls and tenants seeking refurbishments and adding a higher emphasis on client experience, also by incorporating more tech elements and not only that.
New entertainment projects include both indoor and outdoor spaces. Moreover, most cinemas start offering alternative content (theatre, exhibitions, concerts etc.), in addition to classic films. Playgrounds are increasingly bigger and more diverse and the offer is complemented by electronic games, car racing, climbing walls, escape rooms or laser rooms. The quality of the spaces designed for spending one’s free time has also become a priority. We all want new concepts and equipment that we have not seen before”, Venera Munjev concluded.
