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ACROSS

Search Results for: shopping center – Page 29

Credit: MK Illumination

EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE OVER SQUARE METERS: HOW LIGHTING, IDENTITY, AND STORYTELLING MAKE RETAIL REAL ESTATE FUTURE-PROOF

In a world where square meters no longer guarantee success, Thomas Mark, President of MK Illumination Group, argues that the future of retail lies in how spaces make us feel. From safety to storytelling, light plays a pivotal role in transforming commercial real estate into places of belonging, optimism, and human connection. As retail shifts from transaction to transformation, emotionally intelligent design is becoming a strategic necessity not just to attract visitors but to inspire loyalty, community, and lasting value.

Credit: FREY

FROM PROMENADES TO OUTLETS: FREY’S BOLD PATH TO MARKET LEADERSHIP

FREY Group has transformed the retail landscape with its open-air Shopping Promenades, and now it is venturing boldly into the outlet sector. In this exclusive interview, Chairman & CEO Antoine Frey explains why the acquisition of ROS was pivotal, how cultural placemaking and B Corp sustainability guide the company’s vision, and why projects like Malmö Designer Village and Designer Outlet Berlin are setting new standards across Europe.

HUMA IN SANKT AUGUSTIN – A PIONEER OF THE HYBRID RETAIL CONCEPT

The huma shopping center in Sankt Augustin is a unique development in the German retail sector: An established center has been successfully combined with a fully-fledged outlet area for the first time. ACROSS spoke with Dr. Maximilian Gutsche, Managing Director of the Jost Hurler Group, and Lars Jähnichen, Managing Director of the IPH Group, about the background, implementation, and market success of this model, as well as how it could be replicated elsewhere.

credit: Eurofund

EXPERIENCE BEATS SPACE: THE NEW DRIVERS OF RETAIL REAL ESTATE

Square meters no longer define success in retail real estate, experience does. As consumer expectations shift from “places to shop” to “destinations worth visiting,” landlords must evolve into curators of ecosystems that blend retail, dining, leisure, sustainability, and digital innovation. From Lisbon’s UBBO shopping resort to Glasgow’s Silverburn community hub, Eurofund Group shows how future-proof assets are built: not by leasing space, but by creating experiences that make brands thrive, communities engage, and investments soar.

Credit: Trinity Capital

“OUTLET VILLAGE SOFIA WILL SET NEW STANDARDS IN BULGARIA”

Outlet Village Sofia: Bulgaria’s First Open-Air Outlet Concept Breaks Ground: Strategically positioned at the gateway to Sofia, right at the junction of one of Bulgaria’s two main highways, Outlet Village Sofia is set to redefine shopping in the region. Benefiting from the constant traffic of international travelers passing the capital and domestic tourists on the move, the project promises a steady stream of diverse shoppers. An interview with Ivan Nachkov, COO of Trinity Capital, and Simona Parvanova, Director of Leasing & Marketing, on the latest plans and developments at Trinity Capital.

credit: VIA Outlets

SUCCESSFUL BRAND PARTNERSHIPS LIE AT THE HEART OF PLACEMAKING FOR VIA OUTLETS

In the world of outlet retail, success isn’t just measured in square meters but in collaboration, data, and experience. Otto Ambagtsheer, CEO of VIA Outlets, shares how the company’s unique partnership-driven model is transforming its 11 centers across Europe into high-performing, guest-focused destinations. From shared sales incentives and shopper insights to immersive placemaking and omnichannel innovation, VIA Outlets is proving that when landlords and brands grow together, the result is more than retail. It’s a curated, connected community.

credit: NEPI Rockcastle

LANDLORDS CAN DO THE HEAVY LIFTING TO HELP RETAILERS REACH THEIR CLIMATE GOALS

While Central and Eastern Europe are experiencing rapid economic growth, the energy transition is still in its infancy. NEPI Rockcastle, the region’s retail real estate leader, is taking unprecedented steps to meet nearly half of its electricity needs via solar power by 2026. With a €110 million investment program stretching from Romania to Poland, the company is not only supporting the sustainability of its tenants but is also reshaping the CEE energy landscape itself. In a sector in which climate targets often lag behind, NEPI Rockcastle is proving that green retail is not only possible but also profitable.

credit: Fiba

“WHEN TENANTS THRIVE, ASSETS GROW”

In an era in which consumer expectations are evolving faster than ever, Fiba Commercial Properties is reimagining retail spaces as dynamic ecosystems of experience, technology, and tenant success. In his exclusive ACROSS Magazine statement, CEO Yurdaer Kahraman outlines a bold vision, from Star Mall’s immersive gastronomy zones in China to AI-powered platforms in Turkey, proving that when tenants thrive, assets don’t just grow, they transform.

Portrait: MPC Properties

EXPERIENCE BEATS SPACE: HOW RETAIL PROPERTIES CAN ONCE AGAIN BECOME PLACES OF RELEVANCE AND COMMUNITY

In an age in which digital dominates and foot traffic is harder to attract, retail spaces are being reimagined not just as places to shop, but as platforms for experience, education, and emotional connection. In her latest piece, Pınar Yalçınkaya, CEO of MPC Properties, explores how AI, sustainability, and creative activations are helping transform shopping centers across Serbia into vibrant hubs of relevance. From beekeeper suits and dinosaur replicas to podcast stages and robots that greet you by name, MPC is proving that future-proof retail is less about space and more about meaning.

credit: SES

Strong Partnerships require a Paradigm Shift in Thinking

The world of retail real estate is revolving faster than ever before: Consumer behavior is changing rapidly, brands are disappearing overnight, and digitalization and shifting values are forcing us to rethink the way we do things. In order to survive, you need more than just square footage; you need a deep understanding of retailers, customers, and social developments. That is why Spar and SES are committed to building genuine partnerships – on an equal footing, with flexibility, innovative strength, and shared responsibility for success.

credit: Mitja Kobal/CC Real

CC REAL: FROM A CONSTRUCTION SITE CONTAINER IN ZAGREB TO AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER IN RETAIL REAL ESTATE

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.

credit: ECE

„CHANGE IS IN OUR DNA”

Innovation and the safeguarding of future success require conviction and values – ECE celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025. This is more than just an anniversary: It is a commitment to continuous change and responsible business practices. ECE Marketplaces CEO Joanna Fisher, who has been with the company for nearly three decades, discusses the power of putting values into practice, her own journey from a working student to a top manager, and how true innovation can only be achieved through integrity and clarity.

CEO PERSPECTIVES 2025: WHEN THE TENANT THRIVERS, THE ASSET FLIES

“When the tenant thrives, the asset survives” is an old saying in retail real estate leasing management. But survival is only the baseline – the ambition must go further. Not just to “survive” – the asset should “fly.” But what will it take in 2025 for an asset to take off? For this cover story, 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.

credit: VIA

VIA Outlets Appoints Marianne Wesselo as Regional Business Directorfor its Central Region in Europe

VIA Outlets has appointed Marianne Wesselo as the new Regional Business Director (RBD) for its Central Region, responsible for overseeing Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet (the Netherlands), Landquart Fashion Outlet (Switzerland), and Zweibrücken Fashion Outlet (Germany). Marianne is part of the VIA Outlets’ Executive Leadership Team and reports directly to Johan Bergenthal, Chief Operating Officer.

credit: Sonae Sierra

Sonae Sierra signs agreement to acquire Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s German third party real estate management business

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.

NEPI ROCKCASTLE ACHIEVES 12.1% GROWTH IN H1 NET OPERATING INCOME – PORTFOLIO SURPASSES €8BN FOR FIRST TIME IN COMPANY’S HISTORY

NEPI Rockcastle N.V., Europe’s third largest listed retail real estate company by portfolio value, achieved a 12.1% growth in NOI (net operating income) year-on-year in the first half (H1) of 2025 to €307 million as a result of the large acquisitions completed in 2024 and a continued improvement in the existing portfolio through active asset management, despite a challenging macroeconomic background.

credit: SES

New life for historic site: SES Breaks Ground on €28 Million S-PARK Varaždin Retail Development

Austria-based developer SES Spar European Shopping Centers has launched construction of its latest project in Croatia: a modern retail park on the historic former Varteks textile factory site in Varaždin. Scheduled to open in 2027, the €28 million investment will include the region’s first Interspar hypermarket, 12 shops, restaurants, and services across 11,500 square meters.

credit: Stratosferica

Urban Optimism in Action: The Utopian Hours Festival in Turin, October 17-19, 2025

ACROSS Magazine speaks with Giacomo Biraghi, co-founder of Stratosferica and one of the driving forces behind the Utopian Hours festival, a one-of-a-kind international gathering in Turin that reframes how cities are celebrated, studied, and shaped. In this interview, Biraghi discusses the ethos behind the event, its approach to urbanism, the evolving role of retail real estate, and how Turin is benefitting directly from this growing global platform.

credit: Kaufhaus Tyrol

Kaufhaus Tyrol in Innsbruck Sold – New Operator Takes Over Following Signa Bankruptcy

The Kaufhaus Tyrol, a prominent shopping center located on Innsbruck’s Maria-Theresien-Straße, has been sold following the bankruptcy of Signa Prime Selection AG. The newly established company KHT AcquiCo SARL has acquired the property. While the exact purchase price remains undisclosed, reports suggest the sale amounted to approximately €140 million.