ACROSS interviews Constantin Wiesmann, Director of Leasing, and Anna Laura Riemann, Senior Leasing Manager, responsible for Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) in Germany. They talk about current challenges in retail, omnichannel models, the future of the industry, and the Group’s key project, Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier.

Nivy Station is a special project. It represents a fusion of various functions into a single, deliberate concept that will provide Bratislava with a new airport-style bus terminal, more than 250 retail establishments, a fully-fledged gastronomic zone with a marketplace offering local farm products, and a green roof for active rest and relaxation. Thanks to the integration of the bus station and its overall location, this center will be a transport hub, suitable for all kinds of urban as well as regional mobility. It is situated in the heart of a dynamically developing business zone and is a neighbor to existing as well as emerging projects in the Nové Nivy zone.

Europe’s largest mixed-use project to date is due to be built in the Romanian capital. An investment in the amount of 2.87 billion euros has been made.

The urban entertainment center, which features an integrated outlet village, will be the first of its kind in Europe. ROS Outlet Shopping will be responsible for its management.

In mid-June, the Supernova Group opened its 15th retail property development in Požega, Croatia: The Supernova Požega retail park introduces famous brands to the city of the same name in Slavonia, in the east of the country.

Retail, from purpose-built shopping centers through to traditional high streets, has been facing long-term challenges, even before Covid-19. And the shift from single to multiple format offers, or mixed-use, is becoming firmly established.

Has the decline in high street shopping brought about a new opportunity for flexible workspace operators to move into town centers and change the way we all work?

Shopping centers have been grappling with dwindling visitor numbers due to their online competition since before the coronavirus crisis. Now, many malls are facing an almost yawning emptiness. To ensure their survival, these shopping hotspots have to strike out in a new direction even faster than originally anticipated.

The shopping resort in Saint-Etienne with its about 70 shops and restaurant cannot open as planned due to the ongoing crisis.