Designer Outlet Kraków forges ahead: open shell to be finished by March

Designer Outlet Kraków has been under construction since last October, when representatives of KG Group and ROS Retail Outlet Shopping signed the foundation act. As of today, the clean-up works have been completed and the open shell is due to be finished by March 2024. The underground works, including the construction of the car park, have already been completed too. After full completion, Designer Outlet Kraków will be BREEAM certified. The opening is scheduled for spring 2025.

Designer Outlet Kraków will operate in a location with a well-established shopping tradition, at the junction of Nowohucka and Galicyjska streets, as part of a mixed-use complex being developed by KG Group, with two Atut Galicyjska retail parks already in operation. The new development is surrounded by a continuously developing residential and office area. In the vicinity, there are two very important arteries of the urban infrastructure: the A4 motorway (Wrocław-Kraków-Rzeszów) and the S7 motorway (Gdańsk–Warsaw–Kraków). In addition, a city bus stop within the shopping complex is planned to be built for those wishing to use public transport. 2,000 parking spaces will round off the accessibility.

On a gross lettable area of 20,000 sq m, Designer Outlet Kraków will be home to more than 100 stores with recognized fashion and lifestyle brands, 30-70% off, all year round. The center will become a shopping destination and a meeting place for the whole family. Up to ten restaurants and cafés will offer a wide variety of cuisines. Designer Outlet Kraków will also stand out for its unique design with interiors infused with natural light coming through skylights. Wide corridors with relaxation areas will make the center a welcoming spot for shopping and leisure.

“We are sure that Designer Outlet Kraków will fit perfectly into the lives of the inhabitants of Lesser Poland. Work on the center’s functionality and appearance has been based on an analysis of contemporary trends. However, we are creating our own concept from scratch, taking into account modern needs for the daily life. Kraków and its region are a unique place with great economic and urban potential. It is in this city that the KG Group originated, so for us, it is a natural market that we have been observing for years, where we build not only commercial, but also residential and hotel properties,” says Krzysztof Gaczorek, CEO of KG Group.

The success of the capital of Lesser Poland capital rests on several key elements, one of the most important of which is its human capital. Kraków has a population of over 804,000, of which around 130,000 are students. According to the Kraków Statistical Office, in December 2023 the city’s unemployment rate was 1.9%, below the national average of 5.1 per cent. A recent GfK study shows that the centre’s catchment area is 4.86 million inhabitants within a 90-minute drive.

“The leasing process is proceeding at full speed. We are creating a brand mix that will meet the expectations of the residents of Kraków, the province of Lesser Poland, as well as foreign and further Polish visitors, for whom shopping in the center will be a unique opportunity to benefit from great discounts on premium and internationally recognized brands. Located in Poland’s most visited and vibrant city, we have no doubt that Designer Outlet Kraków will be a very popular and strong shopping destination “says Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder and Managing Director at ROS Retail Outlet Shopping.

Indeed, Kraków has been a showcase for Polish tourism for years, as evidenced by the numerous awards it has received. It is also the second most visited city in Poland by foreigners after Warsaw. In 2023, Kraków was visited by 9.3 million domestic and international tourists. Furthermore, Kraków is on the way to Zakopane, a popular ski and mountain resort that attracts even more tourists.