NEPI Rockcastle’s €136 million Promenada Craiova development in central southern Romania officially opens its doors today. The retail scheme has attracted a host of international brands and is the largest retail development by size and investment value opening in Central and Eastern Europe in 2023, according to CBRE.
OUT NOW – LATEST ISSUE! +++ RE-THINK! – How to reassess development, invention and communication in retail real estate. The real estate industry has been in a state of change for a few years now: increasing online retail, the move to multi-channel, changing logistics requirements, a strong emphasis on entertainment, a much higher level of diversity in retail, and last but not least, the big issue of ESG. “Re-think” – is the order of the day.
The Vienna-based company CC Real is today among the most significant, albeit so far relatively low-profile, players in the European retail real estate market. In an interview with ACROSS, founders Fabian Kaufmann and Sven Vorih, describe the journey from their beginnings in Croatia to their current expansion strategies in Europe and Australia. The discussion covers experiences in times of crisis, strategic partnerships, refurbishment successes, and the question of why CC Real still firmly believes in the future of retail.
Sonae Sierra, a vertically integrated real estate company and a leading player in the European Shopping Center space, has signed an agreement with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to acquire its German business unit dedicated to the management of shopping centers for third parties – Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Real Estate Management (“URW REM”). The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.
French retail real estate group FREY has cemented its position among Europe’s top three outlet operators with a €410 million acquisition of three flagship shopping villages in Italy. Backed by a €650 million strategic partnership with Cale Street, the deal brings Franciacorta (Lombardy), Valdichiana (Tuscany), and Palmanova (near Trieste) under FREY’s umbrella, adding 90,000 sq m of retail space and 11 million annual visitors to its portfolio.
From May 2025, retail property specialist MEC will take over management of Bonn’s Maximilian Center, aiming to position the busy shopping hub for sustainable growth.
With a dynamic mix of shopping malls, retail parks, hotels, and residential developments, BALFIN Group is setting new benchmarks for real estate in Southeast Europe. In this exclusive interview, the company’s Vice President of Real Estate Asset Management, Csaba Toth, outlines BALFIN’s growth strategy, from expanding its footprint across the Balkans to entering mature Western markets. He explains how the group is redefining retail, embracing digital innovation, and why its integrated approach makes BALFIN a one-stop gateway for international investors and retail brands eyeing this fast-growing region.
Retail is no longer defined by the mid-market segment. Across the globe, a growing divide is reshaping the sector: Luxury brands are thriving on exclusivity and immersive experiences, while discount retailers are rapidly expanding through pricing power and operational scale. Mid-market players – the dependable heart of shopping centers – are being squeezed out, explains Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of Fiba Commercial Properties.
Following a strategic repositioning by MEC and Nuveen Real Estate, Galerie Troisdorf is embracing a retail-driven future. With key tenants like C&A and Müller reaffirming their commitment and newcomers such as NEW YORKER and a modern fitness studio joining the lineup, the shopping center strengthens its role as a central retail hub in the Rhineland region.
Bulgaria’s high-performing retail market was highlighted at NEPI Rockcastle’s third Retailers Day held recently in Sofia. More than 150 representatives from leading international retailers and industry partners gathered for a full day of insightful presentations on the Group’s new greenfield shopping centre project to be developed in the city of Plovdiv, international retail trends and global macroeconomic perspectives.
The retail landscape is undergoing a dramatic shift, influenced by the increasing demand for health, well-being, and sustainability from both tenants and the wider community, alongside the growing polarization of the market. The most successful retail transformations are those that adapt to these dual forces by prioritizing the creation of healthy and sustainable environments, catering to a range of tenant and community needs. This necessitates a thorough understanding of their intricate interplay and a proactive approach to development and asset management.
A quiet but profound shift is transforming the retail industry across Europe: while luxury and discount segments thrive, many mid-tier retailers—once considered the backbone of the high street and shopping centers—are struggling to stay afloat. This growing polarization is not merely a passing trend; it is a structural shift that reflects changing consumer behaviors, economic realities, and the need for clear market positioning. But if you take a closer look, you will see that it is not the middle that is dying, but only mediocrity. What is emerging is a new middle ground between luxury and discount, determined by one thing alone: relevance.
Romania’s retail park owner M Core has reinforced its market leadership through a series of high-impact acquisitions and developments within the past six months. With over €150 million deployed in Romania year-to-date, the company has successfully acquired Focșani Shopping Centre from KBC, Suceava Shopping City, and seven retail parks from property investor MAS.
ISZ Immobilien Service Zentrum GmbH and Union Investment signed a lease agreement for the use of the space in the former Karstadt property in the Wandsbek Markt district by the Wandsbek district office. The new location for the Wandsbek district office has been leased for a term of 20 years. The move is scheduled to take place by 2029.
Campo Novo is a landmark mixed-use development that is redefining urban living in the heart of Lisbon. The project, strategically located along the city’s main axis and adjacent to the key Campo Grande transport hub, redefines placemaking and sets a benchmark for future-ready city living.
The extensive redevelopment of the ITIS Shopping Center in Helsinki has now been successfully completed. With an investment of 60 million euros, CC Real has fundamentally repositioned the center by the end of 2024 and transformed it into a modern, future-proof urban destination.
Tirana East Gate (TEG), Albania’s premier shopping destination, has announced a transformative expansion that is not only reshaping the skyline of the industry, but also redefining what a modern shopping center can offer.
Redevco is transforming the iconic 126 Rivoli in Paris into a vibrant 13,000 sq m mixed-use space. Located on one of Paris’s main shopping streets, Beats Per Minute (BPM) aims to be a modern urban development landmark, combining environmental and societal goals and revitalizing the city.
The 27th Retail Symposium at Palais Ferstel in Vienna focused on nothing less than the most important questions for the retail landscape: Which innovative approaches will secure the future of retail and retail real estate? Industry experts showed how brick-and-mortar retail can become more successful than ever.
G City Europe, a leading retail real estate company in Poland, is strengthening its development capabilities. Piotr Myszka has joined the company as Head of Development, marking an important step in the implementation of the company’s long-term strategy to grow its retail portfolio in key urban locations.
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