Galimmo opens restructured Shop’in Pacé in Rennes with co-design approach

The total re-design with a maritime inspiration and transformation of Shop’in Pacé near Rennes (France) has successfully been completed by the Galimmo group. It reflects its strategy which aims to co-design human-scale leading shopping destinations in their catchment area, co-designed with their users.

“We are proud to propose a new friendly shopping destination, fully integrated in the greater area of Rennes. Shop’in Pacé was designed by and for its customers and retailers, to ensure a perfect integration into its environment. Its transformation is a further illustration of the approach developed by Galimmo to define jointly with public users, customers, and local stakeholders, new spaces fully symbiotic with the surrounding territory ” says Eric Ravoire, Managing Director France. 

The site is complementary to the other retail destinations of the greater area of Rennes. This transformation project was developed to bolster Shop’in Pacé’s local position with new services and an enriched range of retail units, while expanding its social and economic footprint in the region. Small and medium-size retail units occupy 8,500 m² GLA area which was extended by 3,800 m² GLA with 96% occupancy.

Twenty new units, local services, and friendly ambiance

Visitors can expect a new shopping experience with around sixty retailers. The commercial mix is well balanced between national chains (such as Camaïeu, Pimkie, MS Mode), franchises (including Afflelou, Nocibé, Etam lingerie, Julien d’Orcel) and independent retailers (such as Coq N Pat, Diane Dalis, Sacmania, Quater Back). 

One of the main aspects of the project, has been to expand the well-being, beauty, and healthcare offer in line with customers’ expectations and wishes expressed during the co-design process. Alongside retailers such as La Boutique du Coiffeur, Optic 2000 and Qipao, the forthcoming installation of Odento (dental care) and Ovisio (ophthalmologist) will expand the range of services to medical care. While Burger et Bocaux boosts the food service offering in the center, Shop’in Pacé has also welcomed new retail business models including second-hand clothing retailers with Friperie Vintage. 

Local services and a friendly ambiance are promoted with more service activities (health, real estate agent, etc.), commodities (bus info point, phone charge points, etc.), areas for children and games for teens, as well as four rest areas designed for customers from all generations.

Galimmo’s contemporary co-design approach

The feeling of belonging to Brittany was clearly expressed in the co-design workshops and translated into design and new architecture with a maritime identity. This approach requires the active participation of stakeholders in the design process. Several workshops were attended by 40 participants, including employees working on the site, local officials, regular customers, and non-customers.

“I am pleased to have taken part in this co-design approach by interacting with other participants in the workshops. We rapidly converged on the maritime identity of our region, we imagined a very ‘comfortable’ ambiance and a bolstered range of well-being services, or bright well-light spaces, wood and greenery. Our wishes were granted“ says Olivier Le Moal, Communications Manager at Cora.