ECE Marketplaces has successfully re-leased the entire former Galeria department store space in the Franken-Center Nuremberg. The retail property specialist announced the signing of three major new tenants: sports retailer Decathlon, fashion house Peek & Cloppenburg Düsseldorf, and toy chain Smyths Toys. Together, the retailers will occupy approximately 12,000 square meters of space across three levels of the shopping center.
Decathlon will take around 4,000 square meters in the basement level, Peek & Cloppenburg Düsseldorf will move into over 4,000 square meters on the ground floor, and Smyths Toys will occupy more than 2,000 square meters on the upper level. The new stores are expected to open in stages following a comprehensive refurbishment, with openings planned for spring and autumn 2026.
ECE Marketplaces is investing approximately €29 million on behalf of the property owners to modernize the facility. Renovation works will include extensive remodeling and upgrades to the building’s technical infrastructure, with construction scheduled to begin shortly.
“The swift and successful re-leasing of the former department store at Franken-Center Nuremberg with attractive retail concepts underscores the continued demand for high-quality retail space in shopping centers,” said Joanna Fisher, CEO of ECE Marketplaces. “It also demonstrates how we are actively reshaping our centers through adapted usage strategies and ongoing transformation.”
The project is part of a broader strategy by ECE to revitalize former department store spaces across its portfolio. Other recent examples include the transformation of a previous department store into the “Food Garden” dining area at the Main-Taunus-Zentrum, and similar redevelopments at the Linden-Center Berlin and Limbecker Platz Essen.
