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Ibrahim Eker is the founder of CEEPlay, a company that has become known across Europe and beyond for its unique realizations of placemaking through innovative, architectural playgrounds.

QTU, Albania’s first shopping center, marks its 20th anniversary - celebrating two decades of redefining retail, leisure, and family experiences.

General Manager Mario Schwann, in an in-depth interview, discusses the success factors behind events such as the recent Late Night Shopping, the growing importance of tourism and gastronomy, and why “rightsizing” is sometimes more critical than larger store spaces.

The Global Hub of Innovation: exciting shopping-places with unique store concepts and forward-looking ideas. The 4th ACROSS Study Tour takes us to the United Arab Emirates. NOW FULLY BOOKED

What will it take in 2025 for an asset to take off? For this special, we asked leading figures in the European retail real estate sector what they see as the most significant current challenges, as well as the solutions needed, for retail assets not just to survive but to prosper.

Go to Special

THE LATEST PLACEMAKING NEWS

Gilbert Menassa, Global Head of Strategic Communications at MK Illumination (left), Angelo Bonello presenting TESSELLIS at Westfield London (right). /// credit: Charles Emerson, MK Illumination

MKXART DEBUTS IMMERSIVE PUBLIC ART TRAIL“HERE WE GLOW” AT WESTFIELD LONDON

May 30, 2025

ALDI UK TO OPEN TEN NEW STORES THIS SUMMER

May 30, 2025

Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping (left), render of the newly opened Designer Outlet Kraków (right). /// credit: ROS Retail Outlet Shopping

DESIGNER OUTLET KRAKÓW: POLAND‘S NEW SMART SHOPPING FLAGSHIP DESTINATION

May 28, 2025

Tamaris opened its first Swiss store in Schaffhausen. /// credit: Tamaris

Tamaris Enters Switzerland With First Store Opening

May 28, 2025

Silvio Kirchmair, CEO of umdasch The Store Makers (left), "Kämmerei" in Düsseldorf, Germany (right). /// credit: umdasch The Store Makers, Art-Invest Real Estate

REDEFINING PLACEMAKING: INSIDE THE KÄMMEREI’S VIBRANT MIXED-USE CONCEPT

May 27, 2025

shopreme — The Scan And Go Solution

May 27, 2025

LATEST ISSUE

PROJECTS, TRENDS AND STRATEGIES

Slovenia’s First Outlet Shopping Village Coming In 2023

The project is developed by HG Invest in cooperation with FOC Retail Service GmbH and Outlet Evolution Services. On an area of more than 20,000 sq m, 70 shops and several hundred new jobs will be created in two phases. Its first phase will be opened in 2023, phase two is scheduled for 2026.

Immofinanz’s retail park brand Stop Shop grows in Croatia

Following its market entry in Italy, Immofinanz is continuing the expansion of its STOP SHOP retail park brand in the Adriatic region. In Croatia, the number of retail parks is to be increased from currently four to more than 20 locations in the medium term.

Scallier’s retail park in Turda cleared for construction

Scallier has obtained the building permit to construct another retail park in Romania. Situated in Turda, the development will provide around 9,000 sqm of space to let. Populated by some 50,000 people, Turda is a town in the northern part of the country.

Mixed-use tower Timber Pioneer in Frankfurt receives building permits

The construction of the project developed by UBM Development and Paulus Immobilien is entering the implementation phase.

MANAGEMENT

LATEST TRENDS IN ASSET AND CENTER MANAGEMENT

NEINVER appoints José María Escobar as new Technical Director

NEINVER has appointed José María Escobar as new Technical Director, reporting directly to Eduardo Ceballos, the Group’s Director of Asset Management.

Placewise Group Appoints Susan Hagerty Bonsak as New CEO

Placewise Group has announced the appointment of Susan Hagerty Bonsak as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2023.

VIA Outlets Appoints Johan Caspar Bergenthal as Chief Operating Officer

VIA Outlets has recruited Johan Caspar Bergenthal as Chief Operating Officer. Starting mid-October, he will work alongside CEO Otto Ambagtsheer to accelerate VIA Outlets’ growth strategy across its 11 premium fashion outlets.

Alexandra Bagehorn returns to KaDeWe Group as General Manager of luxury department store Kadewe

Bagehorn was already General Manager of the Alsterhaus in Hamburg for three years.

OUTLETS

DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE OUTLET INDUSTRY

Outlet shopping on the way to the seaside?

Starting this May, Romania will have a second outlet center developed by Liebrecht & Wood at the Eastern exit of Bucharest.

Future Retail at Outletcity Metzingen

The designer outlet in the German state of Baden-Württemberg takes shopping to the next level across all channels. Managing Director René Kamm presents Outlet 3.0.

Taking a look at Germany’s first urban outlet center

The third construction stage of designer outlets Wolfsburg was completed in October 2018. This shopping destination serves all those who work nearby, all visiting for the day, and everyone who just wants to enjoy a meal in a lively atmosphere with additional restaurant options like “Frittenwerk” or “Dean and David”.

Joining Forces on a Project in Krakow

Cracovia Outlet is set to become the only new fashion and lifestyle center in the Polish city. Peakside Capital and the KG Group have recently reached an agreement on this matter. ROS Retail Outlet Shopping has been appointed as the management company.

RETAIL

STRATEGIES OF RETAILERS

Sausalitos Restaurant Chain Declares Bankruptcy

German restaurant chain Sausalitos, known for its great American-Mexican cuisine, has filed for insolvency.

Shopping Centers In Europe – Rapid Steps Towards Sustainability

Over the past twelve months, there has been significant progress toward sustainability in the European shopping center landscape. According to the latest RegioData analysis, a clear trend has emerged: an increase in environmental certifications and a decline in non-certified buildings. This not only highlights the transformation in the construction industry but also underscores the growing importance of ecological standards.

The Seam — Nurturing The Culture Of Clothing Care & Repair

Established in 2020, The Seam revolutionizes sustainable fashion by making specialist care and repair services accessible at scale, connecting customers with local makers and businesses to repair damaged clothing.

The Opening Date Of Hamburg’s Most Awaited Shopping And Lifestyle Destination Is Rapidly Approaching

Hamburg is preparing for its new shopping highlight with the opening date of the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier on April 8 being just around the corner. In combination with a wide range of gastronomy, entertainment and cultural offerings, the official opening of the center will establish a new shopping and lifestyle destination that is unique in northern Germany and offers exceptional experiences for both the local community and all visitors.

FOOD & BEVERAGE / LEISURE

LATEST TRENDS

PROPTECH

RETAIL TECHNOLOGY

INVESTMENT

PLANS OF INVESTORS AND OWNERS

An 8-year Acquisition Term

Helaba finances Atrium European Real Estate’s purchase of Wars Sawa Junior for EUR 170 million. The shopping center, located in the Polish capital, comprises 26,000 sq m of retail space.

Why Polish People Love Click & Collect

EPP is the leading owner of malls in Poland. CEO Hadley Dean emphasizes the importance of the correct weighting of online shopping competition.

Change of Ownership at Trnava City Arena

The acquisition of Trnava City Arena in Slovakia has been recently completed. Peter Korbačka acquired the shopping center from Vladimír Poór. Negotiations lasted for nearly a year. The price as well as other transactional details have not been disclosed and remain subject to business privacy. However, this is one of the country’s most important retail segment transactions of the year.

Almada Fórum in New Hands – Merlin Properties in a Buying Mood

JLL, acting for Blackstone, has completed the sale of Almada Fórum, from the Rio Tejo retail portfolio, to Merlin Properties. The portfolio originally comprised three prime shopping centers and a retail park.

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