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Albania’s retail landscape is transforming at a pace rarely seen in Europe. Modern shopping destinations, international brands, rising domestic consumption, and a booming tourism sector are bringing the country into a new era. At the center of this evolution stands ACREM, the commercial property management company of BALFIN Group – and one of the most influential forces behind the modernization of Albanian retail.
Guiding this transformation is Mariola Kuçi, ACREM’s CEO, who leads one of the country’s most strategic real estate and retail organizations and is orchestrating one of Albania’s biggest economic transformations: the rise of modern retail.
In this rapidly expanding environment, ACREM is a key strategic pillar, ensuring that Albania’s top commercial assets operate efficiently, are future-ready, and meet international customer expectations.
Albania: A Retail Market Growing in Step with the Economy
Albania today is not the Albania of a decade ago. A country once underserved in organized retail is rapidly becoming one of Europe’s most dynamic new retail markets. With strong GDP growth, expanding infrastructure, rising wages, and more than 12 million tourists annually.
Consumption patterns are changing rapidly, with tourism as a driver, and expectations for quality retail experiences are higher than ever. Also, Albanians are living differently today – traveling more, spending more, expecting more. Retail has become part of how people socialize, unwind, and experience modern life.
In this context of rapid expansion, ACREM plays a critical role: ensuring that Albania’s leading commercial assets operate with international standards, strong performance, and customer-focused innovation.
BALFIN Group: An International Player in Retail
Founded in 1993 by Samir Mane, BALFIN Group is today a dynamic and innovative investment group with a diversified portfolio and a growing presence across 11 countries between Europe and North America. Its impact reaches modern retail, real estate, banking, tourism, education, logistics, etc. and social initiatives, now consolidated under the Mane Foundation.
With more than 5,000 employees and 270+ points of sale, BALFIN is serving 80,000 customers daily in all the countries it is present.
BALFIN Group, through its company BALFIN Americas, is now present in the U.S. real estate market, having acquired, in partnership with Crown Acquisitions, one of the most premier commercial buildings in New Jersey, known as “340 Mount Kemble”. It is a Class A office building that is home to some of the largest international financial institutions. With a total lot area of over 160,000 m², the building offers 40,000 m² of office space and a wide range of modern services, including a conference room, gym, game room, lounge, full-service café, and over 1,600 parking spaces.
One of its flagship ventures, Green Coast, is transforming the Ionian Riviera into a Mediterranean touristic destination and blending premium living with curated leisure and boutique retail. ACREM plays a strategic operational role within its commercial zones Lungo Mare, La Vista, and Galleria by TEG.
Green Coast: BALFIN’s Flagship Coastal Development
Green Coast is transforming the Ionian Riviera into a Mediterranean-level destination. Its concept blends:
- Premium residences and villas
- Hotels and hospitality concepts
- Leisure, gastronomy, and entertainment
- Boutique retail
- Year-round service infrastructure
Here, ACREM plays a strategic role in managing and supporting the Green Coast commercial ecosystem within:
- Lungo Mare
- La Vista
- Galleria by TEG
These commercial zones enrich tourism experience and bring retail quality comparable to international seaside destinations.
ACREM: The Engine Driving Albania’s Commercial Real Estate Modernization
Since 2005, ACREM has played a leading role in modernizing commercial real estate in Albania and the region. The company has established high standards of operational excellence across key retail destinations, introduced international management practices, enabled the entry of global brands and shaped evolving consumer habits. Today, ACREM’s expertise extends beyond Albania, managing flagship assets such as East Gate Mall in North Macedonia, further strengthening its regional impact.
Beside the Green Coast commercial zones, ACREM’s commercial portfolio includes the country’s most important shopping assets:
- TEG – Tirana East Gate
- QTU – Qendra Tregtare Univers
- East Gate Mall
- Retail parks and stand-alone commercial units
ARCEM also supports global brands entering the market and advises BALFIN on new commercial concepts – including what many believe will be Albania’s next retail boom: retail parks.
“Retail parks will be the future of commercial development in Albania. They offer flexibility, faster rollout, and support expanding suburban markets. This will be a key part of ACREM’s development strategy in the coming years”, Mariola Kuçi says.
ACREM’s Strategic Expertise and Services
ACREM also was the first to bring modern retail management to Albania. Visitors may only see the attractive storefronts, the events, the polished floors. But behind the scenes is a sophisticated machine. The company now delivers a complete suite of commercial management services: leasing teams, technical operations, financial management, safety protocols, marketing strategies, and innovation planning.
ACREM integrates every key function required to design, operate, and grow modern commercial assets:
- Shopping center and retail park management
- Leasing and tenant relations
- Technical operations and safety
- Financial reporting and budgeting
- Marketing, branding and events
- Cleaning, security and landscaping
- Concept development for new commercial projects
- Onboarding and support for international brands entering Albania
ACREM CEO Mariola Kuçi: “Our focus is long-term performance. Efficient operations, strong tenant partnerships and customer experience are the pillars that define ACREM today.”
QTU at 20: A Landmark for Albanian Retail
As Albania’s first modern shopping mall, QTU has shaped consumer habits since 2005. Today it remains one of the country’s strongest-performing retail destinations.
“QTU is where modern retail began in Albania. Its success for 20 years shows the importance of consistency, innovation, and a deep understanding of customer needs.” – Mariola Kuçi
Today, QTU attracts record footfall and continues to reinvent itself – most recently with the opening of BO Bowling, Albania’s first bowling center, cementing its role as a family-oriented entertainment hub.
TEG: Albania’s Leading Shopping Destination
Since 2011, TEG has set the standard for retail, entertainment, lifestyle, and gastronomy in Albania.
“TEG is more than a shopping center – it is a destination. People come here to spend time, to enjoy, and to feel connected. This is why TEG continues to lead the market,” Mariola Kuçi notes.
With over 10.5 million annual visitors, TEG remains unmatched in customer experience, brand offering, performance, and entertainment with a consistency no other destination has matched.
And the upcoming expansion will further reinforce TEG’s leadership by adding
- 14,000 m² new GLA
- 650 new parking spaces
- 8,000 m² of new entertainment
- More than 20 international brands
- Digital upgrades: smart parking, digital screens, expanded loyalty program
“This expansion is our response to rising demand and evolving customer expectations. Albania is changing and TEG must continue leading that evolution.” – Mariola Kuçi
East Gate Mall
East Gate Mall, the largest retail and lifestyle destination in North Macedonia, continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub by delivering a modern, experience-driven retail mix that attracts millions of visitors annually.
With over 250 international and local brands, a dynamic dining and entertainment offer, and a design that integrates open, welcoming spaces, East Gate Mall has become a benchmark for next-generation shopping centers in Southeast Europe.
In 2026, the mall will further elevate its experiential offer with the launch of Hyperactive, a state-of-the-art 9,000 sqm entertainment zone, one of the largest of its kind in the region, setting a new standard for immersive family and youth experiences.
Conclusion: ACREM Is One of the Most Strategic Drivers of Western Balkans’ Retail Future
As Albania strengthens its position as a regional tourism and retail destination and North Macedonia continues on a path of steady growth, ACREM, under the leadership of Mariola Kuçi, stands at the forefront of this transformation.
Through the management of key assets such as TEG, QTU, East Gate Mall, retail parks, and the commercial units at Green Coast, ACREM is actively shaping a modern, competitive, and experience-driven retail environment across Albania and North Macedonia.
