Projects & Openings Europe

HUNGARY

Etele Plaza

Etele Plaza opened its doors to the public on 17 September 2021. Developer Futureal has invested approximately 300 million euros in the shopping and entertainment center, which functions as a transport hub. Built at the intersection of Kelenföld Station, Metro Line 4, and the access route of the M1-M7 highways, Etele Plaza can be reached in just 10 minutes from downtown Budapest. The immediate catchment area of the new shopping center is one of the most densely populated areas of the Hungarian capital, home to around 235,000 people. The inhabitants of this district represent 125% of the average purchasing power of the country, yet the retail supply is relatively low. Almost 4,000 sq m of green space, ornamental grass, shrubs, and trees await visitors to the environmentally friendly center, which features a leasable area of 55,000 sq m. Customers can choose from a variety of well-known brands, such as Peek & Cloppenburg, which opened its first store on the Buda side of the shopping center. All of the brands that belong to Inditex, a Spanish group, are present in Hungary, including Zara, which has introduced its latest store concept to the local market. American clothing company GAP has opened its first store in the country at the location. The food court at Etele Plaza nearly covers the entire third floor of the building and offers dining space for more than 1,000 people.

GERMANY

Flair

Following a two-and-a-half-year construction period, investor P&P Group ceremoniously opened the Flair Urban Entertainment Center in Fürth (Bavaria) on 17 September 2021. Visitors now have 60 stores and numerous gastronomic offerings, which cover an area of 22,000 sq m, at their disposal. Various attractions, such as Europe’s largest free-standing block aquarium, weighing roughly 27 tons, a free fitness course, LED floors with virtual river courses, or the large children’s world, featuring a spiral slide over two floors, offer entertainment for the entire family. Germany’s largest virtual reality experience world, Hologate World Flair, is a special highlight, offering escape rooms and multiplayer gaming events on an area measuring 1,300 sq m. The shopping center is primarily intended for the nearly 1.2 million inhabitants of the Fürth/Nuremberg catchment area. The city-center location on Schwabacher Strasse offers a direct link to the pedestrian zone and local public transport. Visitors arriving by car can make use the city’s largest underground parking garage, which boasts 530 convenient parking spaces. Flair replaces City-Center, which was built in 1985 and was one of the first shopping centers in Germany. For many years, the brewery grounds and the Geismannsaal, one of Fürth’s central event venues, were located on the same site. Flair will seamlessly continue the tradition of meeting in the heart of the city. The entire remodeling and new construction of the entrance building is currently undergoing the final BREEAM sustainability certification process.

FRANCE

Shop’in Pacé

On 31 August 2021, Galimmo, an owner and operator of retail spaces and active in four European countries, celebrated the opening of Shop’in Pacé’s new configuration near Rennes, France. The complete redesign and new architecture, which features maritime inspiration, includes an expansion to a total area of 19,000 sq m. Thanks to the implementation of small and medium-sized retail units focused on well-being and health services, as well as two new anchors, Action and Picard, Shop’in Pacé now offers an expanded range and layout. “We are proud to be able to provide a new, welcoming shopping center that is fully integrated into the Rennes metropolitan area. Store’in Pacé was designed by and for its customers and retailers to ensure the most ideal integration into its environment. Its transformation is yet another example of the approach developed by Galimmo to define, together with public users, customers, and local stakeholders, new spaces that are perfectly adapted to the surrounding area. Complete restructuring of the area, an expanded retail offer, new activities and uses, new animations and events: This program is emblematic of our ambition to reinvent our shopping centers and create vibrant retail spaces that are perfectly integrated into their surroundings,” commented Eric Ravoire, Managing Director of Galimmo France.

GERMANY

Quarree

The refurbishment of Quarree in Hamburg’s Wandsbek district, which began in 2019, was completed in August 2021. The extensive renovation/restructuring includes a completely new design concept, new tenants, as well as existing tenants that feature new looks. Two new owner-operated restaurants have been added to the food and beverage area on the first floor. The Vietnamese L’Quán and the French bistro La Parisienne invite guests to take culinary breaks from their shopping activities, and they can also function as meeting places – for business lunches as well as for relaxed evening get-togethers. In order to enhance the quality of stay and comfort at Quarree, its services have been adapted to current customer needs. The restrooms have been renovated and given a new design, and new seating areas equipped with cell phone charging stations, baby changing and nursing rooms, and children’s restrooms have been installed. A customer information station, free Wi-Fi, ATMs, a wheelchair rental service, and lockers round out the offerings, just as they did prior to the refurbishment. Union Investment, the owner, has invested approximately 40 million euros in the project in order to make the center, which has a high number of regular customers, fit for the future.