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credit: BIG CEE

BIG CEE to Open Serbia’s First Lifestyle Retail Park – BIG Čačak

BIG CEE will officially open Serbia’s first lifestyle retail park – BIG Čačak – on September 18. Covering 16,500 sq m and representing an investment of €25 million, the project introduces a diverse mix of well-known domestic and international brands, along with leisure and entertainment facilities designed for all generations.

The Final Chapter of the European Shopping Places Trust: A Legacy of Education, Research, and Empowerment

In 2025, after more than a quarter of a century of dedicated service to Europe’s retail real estate community, the European Shopping Places Trust (ESPT) will close its books. For the professionals, students, researchers, and industry leaders touched by its work, this moment is less an ending than a milestone. This is a chance to reflect on what has been achieved and the legacy that will endure.

Will Odwarka is the Founder and CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting. /// credit: ACROSS, Will Odwarka

Will’s F&B Insights: Competitive Socializing – A New Catalyst for Malls and Mixed-Use Destinations

Retail is reinventing itself – one game at a time. As the mega-multiplex era fades and streaming dominates screens, malls and mixed-use destinations are turning to competitive socializing. Mini-golf with cocktails, high-tech darts, F1 simulators, and bowling-meets-karaoke mash-ups are the new anchors of experience. More than just entertainment, these hybrid venues are reshaping consumer journeys, driving footfall, and transforming retail spaces into cultural playgrounds as Will Odwarka explains in his latest column for ACROSS.

credit: VIA

VIA Outlets Appoints Marianne Wesselo as Regional Business Directorfor its Central Region in Europe

VIA Outlets has appointed Marianne Wesselo as the new Regional Business Director (RBD) for its Central Region, responsible for overseeing Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet (the Netherlands), Landquart Fashion Outlet (Switzerland), and Zweibrücken Fashion Outlet (Germany). Marianne is part of the VIA Outlets’ Executive Leadership Team and reports directly to Johan Bergenthal, Chief Operating Officer.

credit: Nicolas Boffi/MIPIM

MIPIM Appoints Nicolas Boffi as New Director

RX France has announced the appointment of Nicolas Boffi as the new Director of MIPIM, the global urban festival. An engineer and urban planner by background, Boffi has over 20 years of experience in real estate and urban development, working across project management, business development and public affairs.

İnegöl Shopping Mall’s “From Tradition to Future” Project Wins Four Stevie Awards at International Business Awards

İnegöl Shopping Mall’s cultural and community-focused initiative, From Tradition to Future, has achieved global recognition, earning four Stevie Awards at the 22nd Annual International Business Awards. The project, developed and managed by Fiba Commercial Properties, received two Gold and two Silver awards, highlighting its impact on corporate responsibility and community engagement.

Redevco appoints Séverine Maumy as Head of Asset & Transaction Management

Redevco has named Séverine Maumy as its new Head of Asset & Transaction Management, bringing more than two decades of pan-European real estate expertise to the role. Joining the company’s Leadership Team and Investment Committee, Maumy’s appointment underscores Redevco’s focus on strengthening its capabilities and talent as it scales its business. She will report directly to CEO Neil Slater.

credit: Sonae Sierra

Sonae Sierra signs agreement to acquire Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s German third party real estate management business

Sonae Sierra, a vertically integrated real estate company and a leading player in the European Shopping Center space, has signed an agreement with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to acquire its German business unit dedicated to the management of shopping centers for third parties – Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Real Estate Management (“URW REM”). The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.

NEPI ROCKCASTLE ACHIEVES 12.1% GROWTH IN H1 NET OPERATING INCOME – PORTFOLIO SURPASSES €8BN FOR FIRST TIME IN COMPANY’S HISTORY

NEPI Rockcastle N.V., Europe’s third largest listed retail real estate company by portfolio value, achieved a 12.1% growth in NOI (net operating income) year-on-year in the first half (H1) of 2025 to €307 million as a result of the large acquisitions completed in 2024 and a continued improvement in the existing portfolio through active asset management, despite a challenging macroeconomic background.

credit: Expo Real

Expo Real Carves Out More Space for Retail Real Estate at New Hall B3

At the upcoming Expo Real 2025 in Munich (October 6–8), retail real estate takes center stage: a redesigned layout in Hall B3 promises better visibility and connectivity, while keynote addresses and panel talks—including a session on AI‑powered customer loyalty—underscore the industry’s forward-looking agenda.

credit: SES

New life for historic site: SES Breaks Ground on €28 Million S-PARK Varaždin Retail Development

Austria-based developer SES Spar European Shopping Centers has launched construction of its latest project in Croatia: a modern retail park on the historic former Varteks textile factory site in Varaždin. Scheduled to open in 2027, the €28 million investment will include the region’s first Interspar hypermarket, 12 shops, restaurants, and services across 11,500 square meters.

credit: FREY

FREY Group accelerates in Europe: Five Italian premium outlet villages join ROS Retail Outlet Shopping’s portfolio

French retail real estate group FREY has cemented its position among Europe’s top three outlet operators with a €410 million acquisition of three flagship shopping villages in Italy. Backed by a €650 million strategic partnership with Cale Street, the deal brings Franciacorta (Lombardy), Valdichiana (Tuscany), and Palmanova (near Trieste) under FREY’s umbrella, adding 90,000 sq m of retail space and 11 million annual visitors to its portfolio.

credit: Stratosferica

Urban Optimism in Action: The Utopian Hours Festival in Turin, October 17-19, 2025

ACROSS Magazine speaks with Giacomo Biraghi, co-founder of Stratosferica and one of the driving forces behind the Utopian Hours festival, a one-of-a-kind international gathering in Turin that reframes how cities are celebrated, studied, and shaped. In this interview, Biraghi discusses the ethos behind the event, its approach to urbanism, the evolving role of retail real estate, and how Turin is benefitting directly from this growing global platform.

credit: Kaufhaus Tyrol

Kaufhaus Tyrol in Innsbruck Sold – New Operator Takes Over Following Signa Bankruptcy

The Kaufhaus Tyrol, a prominent shopping center located on Innsbruck’s Maria-Theresien-Straße, has been sold following the bankruptcy of Signa Prime Selection AG. The newly established company KHT AcquiCo SARL has acquired the property. While the exact purchase price remains undisclosed, reports suggest the sale amounted to approximately €140 million.

Will Odwarka is the Founder and CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting. /// credit: ACROSS, Will Odwarka

Will’s F&B Insights: The Mirage of Fast-Franchising – How Underdeveloped Restaurant Concepts Damage the Industry

An increasing number of underdeveloped restaurant concepts are rushing into franchising—putting not only investors at risk but also eroding trust in the industry as a whole. In his incisive article, Will Odwarka, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting, warns in his latest F&B column against the “myth of easy money” and explains how lack of concept maturity, insufficient support, and short-term thinking can backfire in the long run.

credit: Alexa

POP MART Debuts First German Store at Berlin’s ALEXA

Berlin’s ALEXA shopping center has just become a paradise for collectible lovers as POP MART opens its very first German retail store, bringing coveted designer toys and exclusive limited editions to the heart of the capital.

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Shaping Spaces: Top Placemaking Projects of 2025
Across the globe, developers and architects are reimagining what it means to create “retail space.” The projects featured in this special edition, selected by leading industry experts, represent more than just successful developments; they are blueprints for the future of how we live, shop, and connect.
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