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placemaking

Dockside Outlet welcomes dental surgery Smil

Smil, a next-generation dental surgery, has opened its doors at Dockside Outlet at Chatham Maritime in Kent (UK). The letting to a service provider follows on from a series of recent lettings to Beauty Outlet, The Fragrance Shop, and Pad Thai Restaurant at the 13,935 sq m center anchored by The Range.

KGAL acquires Charles Square Center in Prague

KGAL has acquired the Charles Square Center in Prague with retail, office space, gastronomy, and healthcare for a pan-European special AIF. The downtown retail and office complex with a total of nearly 20,000 sq m of leasable space has a number of international tenants. The seller of the property was Commerz Real.

Hines Signs €50 Million Green Loan for Mixed-Use Property Preciados 13

Hines, on behalf of Bayerische Versorgungskammer (BVK), has signed a €50 million green loan with CaixaBank as part of a new financing package for its flagship Preciados 13 project in Madrid. In 2017, the mixed-use building was acquired by Hines on behalf of BVK Highstreet Retail Preciados S.L.U.

First Outlet in Brussels is planned for 2023

TORG International will collaborate with Start Concept on leasing the first outlet in Brussels. Construction of the entire project is well advanced with an opening planned for late 2023.

Norblin Factory in Warsaw expands tenant portfolio

The multifunctional Norblin Factory opened in September last year and is gaining more and more tenants. The project’s investor, the Capital Park Group, has signed lease contracts with another six concepts which will soon join the revitalized complex at Żelazna Street.

MVGM takes over center management of mixed-use asset Lili Wiesbaden

MVGM has been commissioned with the center management for Lili in Wiesbaden. The mixed-use object in the Hessian capital covers an area of around 37,000 sq m. The former Lilien-Carré has been named Lili since 2019 and owned by a fund sponsored by Orion Capital Managers since the end of 2014.

HIH Invest Acquires Warnow Park retail center in Rostock

HIH Invest Real Estate acquired Warnow Park in Rostock (Germany) on behalf of an individual mandate given by an institutional investor. The district center in the Lutten Klein district was sold by Highstreet VIII, a retail property fund managed by Corestate.

Niam acquires two mixed-use centers in Stockholm

Niam has acquired Väsby Centrum and Bålsta Centrum, both with strategic locations close to important commuter hubs in northern Stockholm, from Grosvenor Europe. The properties have a variety of necessity driven retail such as grocery, healthcare, and restaurants.

EDGE delivers mixed-use development Valley in Amsterdam to RJB Group

EDGE announces the successful delivery of its eye-catching 75,000 sq m mixed-use development Valley, designed by MVRDV, to owner RJB Group of Companies. EDGE has won the tender in 2015 and started construction in 2017 with the ambitious goal to bring a new dynamism to Amsterdam’s Zuidas.

Revetas converts entire portfolio in Romania to renewable energy

Revetas Group has shifted its entire portfolio of assets in Romania to renewable energy as a continuation of the company’s commitment to ESG practices to support the collective efforts of reducing the impact buildings have in local communities.

EXPANSION COUPLED WITH REFURBISHMENT: THE BALKANS’ LARGEST RETAIL PARK, XOPARK SOFIA, RECEIVES A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION

XOPark Sofia, the largest retail park in the Balkans, has received a major extension, almost doubling its GLA. The project, which also involves the renovation of the already established part of the development, has just been rebranded belonging to the XOPark national retail park chain owned and managed by Trinity Capital.

Placemaking Project by Ivan Nachkov, COO at Trinity Capital NAME OF PROJECT: XOPark Sofia Retail Park DEVELOPER: MCK AD OWNER: Trinity Capital AD PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: A significant transformation is underway at the largest retail park in the Balkans. It has recently undergone a major extension, adding 25,000 sq m GLA to the existing 30,000 sq […]

Name it brings children’s fashion to the EUROPA-Galerie Saarbrücken

With the opening of a new 176 sq m Name It store in the Europagalerie in Saarbrücken, Germany, four formats of the Danish fashion group Bestseller are now located there.

EUROPA-Galerie Saarbrücken welcomes a new tenant. Name It, the Danish label for children’s and youth fashion, is coming to Saarbrücken for the first time and expanding the fashion and shopping variety of the EUROPA-Galerie and thus also of Saarbrücken’s city center. Following the successful handover of space, the conversion of the store has begun. The […]

MAJOR EXTENSION OF BUCHAREST’S PROMENADA MALL – A BIG VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE CEE ECONOMIES AND RETAIL MARKETS

NEPI Rockcastle is investing around 300 million euros in a 55,000 sq m GLA mixed-use (retail, offices, hotel) extension of the Promenada Mall in Bucharest and refurbishment of the existing shopping center. This represents by far the largest retail development currently underway across all Central and Eastern European markets and is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2026/early-2027.

Placemaking Project by Marek Noetzel, COO of NEPI Rockcastle NAME OF PROJECT: Promenada Mall Extension, BucharestDEVELOPER: NEPI RockcastleOWNER: NEPI Rockcastle PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: Bucharest’s Promenada Mall is receiving a 55,000 sqm GLA mixed-use extension – a total investment of c. 300 million euros in the biggest retail development in CEE. The development – with around 40% […]

Price Sensitivity And Brand Loyalty: Emerging Consumer Trends In Germany

Changing consumer habits, rising living costs, and a growing awareness of the right balance between price and quality have intensified competition for customers. A recent study by Statista focusing on Germany’s consumer market explores how consumers make purchasing decisions today, what influences their behavior, and which long-term trends are emerging.

The study’s findings offer a nuanced view of current consumer dynamics – revealing where manufacturers and brands must adapt to stay aligned with evolving expectations. Rising living costs, economic uncertainties, and shifting consumer habits are measurably influencing purchasing decisions – but not in the same way across all categories. While price is becoming increasingly important in […]

Polish CCC Group’s Q1 Results Reinforce Its Expansion Strategy For 2025

Shoe retailer CCC plans to double down on its expansion in 2025, following the company’s positive results for Q1. In the three months ending with 30 April, the CCC Group’s revenue rose 4% year-on-year, to PLN 2.3 billion (approx. 540 million euros).

The CCC business line generated PLN 1 billion in sales, a 9% increase compared to last year. HalfPrice also saw revenue growth, to PLN 443 million, up 20% year-on-year. A 6% year-on-year decline in the Modivo Group’s revenue (eobuwie -5%, MODIVO -8%) is consistent with expectations and primarily reflects the strategic decisions to withdraw from less profitable markets. […]

Primark To Debut Its First Stores In The Middle East Later This Year

Primark has announced its first stores in the Middle East in partnership with Alshaya Group. The first stores to open in the GCC region later this year mark the international retailer’s 18th & 19th market entries.

Following the announcement of the strategic partnership in September 2024, Primark and Alshaya have confirmed plans to open the first of its new stores before the end of 2025 across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – starting with Kuwait (The Avenues, Kuwait) in October this year and Dubai in early 2026 with Dubai Mall, Mall […]

Acquisition of Designer Outlet Berlin: Strategic Step for FREY and ROS to Become European Market Leaders

With the acquisition of Designer Outlet Berlin just last week, and the upcoming opening of ROS Retail Outlet Shopping’s new location in Kraków, Poland, the current projects under ROS and FREY are a testament to their vision as well as the segment’s potential. In an interview with ACROSS, Thomas Reichenauer, Co-Founder and Managing Director of ROS, goes into detail about their current high-profile projects on the outlet market, where they see further potential, and the advantages brought by the merger between ROS and FREY as they aim to become the market leaders in Europe.

ACROSS: FREY and ROS Retail Outlet Shopping have acquired their first asset with Designer Outlet Berlin. What is the core objective of this acquisition? THOMAS REICHENAUER: The mission of FREY and ROS is to become the European market leader in open retail and high-end shopping destinations in the coming years. Our first joint project, Designer […]

Reloading Retail – 27th Retail Symposium by RegioPlan shows future prospects for the retail sector

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.

The Retail Symposium by RegioPlan Consulting GmbH entered its 27th round under the motto “…reloading retail!”. Retail and retail real estate need to evolve in order to remain competitive in the digital and sustainable world. Right at the start, Romina Jenei, CEO of Regioplan Consulting, emphasized the need for retail to combine innovation and sustainability […]

INTERSPORT EXPANDS WITH FLAGSHIP CONCEPT IN GERMANY

With INTERSPORT Krumholz in Mülheim-Kärlich and Sport Förg in Augsburg, two new locations are added to the INTERSPORT flagship network in Germany.

INTERSPORT Krumholz operates a sports store and a separate outdoor store with a total area of 3,800 sq m at the Mülheim-Kärlich location, while at Sport Förg in Augsburg, sports worlds are not only visible, but tangible on around 3,800 sq m of sales space. With innovative services such as an interactive ski simulator and […]

Recommended reading: A look at ‘Modern Retail Management’

With the book Modern Retail Management, Dr. Johannes B. Berentzen and Dr. Philipp Hoog present an outstanding collection that takes an in-depth look at the pressing issues of today’s – and tomorrow’s – retail landscape. Featuring 24 thought-provoking chapters by 36 leading experts, the book offers a rare blend of academic insight and practical guidance. From digital transformation and omnichannel strategy to sustainability and AI, this forward-looking volume equips readers with the tools and ideas needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector. Essential reading for anyone looking to shape the future of retail.

As the publisher of ACROSS, I am delighted to be able to present a special book to you: ‘Modern Retail Management’ by Dr Johannes B. Berentzen and Dr Philipp Hoog. In my previous collaboration with Dr Berentzen, I have always appreciated his in-depth expertise and his focus on the future of retail – and it […]

HalfPrice Opens Its First Italian Store At Merlata Bloom Milan

HalfPrice has opened the doors of its first store in Italy, choosing Merlata Bloom Milan as the exclusive destination for its national debut.

The opening of the flaghsip store is a first for the city of Milan, welcoming an authentic urban outlet with thousands of international brands at competitive prices, all under a single, iconic glass dome. HalfPrice was founded in Poland in 2021 and currently has more than 150 stores in 14 countries, and finally this spring, […]

7Learnings — The Next Generation Of Retail Pricing

To better regulate the loss of profits to suboptimal price rules, 7Learnings helps retailers optimize their pricing with its predicting pricing software.

The startup’s solution enables retailers and brands to make optimal pricing decisions based on predictions – automated, data-supported and along the entire value chain. The platform combines dynamic pricing, marketing optimization and purchasing control in a single system. 7Learnings uses advanced machine learning models to forecast demand for different price points with high accuracy, and […]

NUGA CASTELLANA: MADRID’S NEW LANDMARK DESTINATION

NUGA Castellana will be designed for “work, live and play”. The goal is to unify all spaces which are managed by PIMCO Prime Real Estate — Paseo de la Castellana 200-208, Félix Boix 4-8, Doctor Fleming 39-41, and Carlos Maurrás 7 (five residential units out of the 14 that make up the asset, alongside commercial spaces) — into a single block that blends cutting-edge design with the most advanced technology.

Placemaking Project by Ian Sandford, President at Eurofund Group NAME OF PROJECT: NUGA CASTELLANADEVELOPER: PIMCO Prime Real EstateOWNER: Allianz Group PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: NUGA Castellana is set to become a landmark destination in Madrid. This urban hub combines residences, offices, restaurants, leisure, and wellness in a 66,000 sq m distinctive space along the city’s Paseo de […]

Designer Outlet Parndorf Further Strenghtens Its Position As A Leading Destination In Europe With Its 6-Million-Euro Investment For 2025

Designer Outlet Parndorf focuses increasingly on overall shopping experience, increased internationalization and a clear positioning as a tourist magnet. In 2025, 6.3 million euros will be invested for even more shopping highlights, optimal infrastructure and sustainable projects.

A broad retail offensive for fashion, sport and lifestyle as well as a strong focus on Generation Z will set the tone for Parndorf. Easy accessibility by train, car or shuttle bus from Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest and an increasing number of European shopping tourists are consolidating the center as a leading destination. As one […]

FREY and ROS Retail Outlet Shopping take over Designer Outlet Berlin

FREY and ROS expand their European footprint with the acquisition of Designer Outlet Berlin, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in its growth and success as a leading premium outlet shopping destination in Germany.

FREY, a leading developer, investor and manager of open-air shopping centers in Europe, has acquired Designer Outlet Berlin from Nuveen. As part of this acquisition, ROS Retail Outlet Shopping—now an in-house division of FREY—will take over the management of the center, building on their strategic partnership that began in summer 2024 when ROS joined the […]

“FOOD GARDEN” AT MAIN-TAUNUS-ZENTRUM: A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ADAPTABILITY

At Main-Taunus-Zentrum (MTZ), one of the largest and most successful shopping centers in Germany, ECE Marketplaces has realized a new destination within the center being a further development of the open structure and providing an additional USP of the center. In the middle of the open-air shopping center in Sulzbach near Frankfurt am Main, the new “Food Garden” creates a lively new urban center with a high quality, varied gastronomy offering in five free-standing restaurant buildings for a total of eight restaurant concepts, inviting outdoor terraces, and attractive green spaces.

Placemaking Project by Joanna Fisher, CEO of ECE Marketplaces NAME OF PROJECT: New “Food Garden” at Main-Taunus-ZentrumDEVELOPER: ECE MarketplacesOWNER: Deutsche EuroShop & closed-end real estate fund managed by DWS PROJECT HIGHLIGHT: At Main-Taunus-Zentrum, one of the largest and most successful shopping centers in Germany, ECE Marketplaces has realized the new “Food Garden” on behalf of […]

SPECIAL ISSUE “SHAPING SPACES: TOP PLACEMAKING PROJECTS OF 2025”

We present our Online Special “Shaping Spaces: Top Placemaking Projects of 2025”.

Dear Reader, As we step deeper into 2025, retail real estate stands at a pivotal crossroads—one defined not by survival, but by bold reinvention. The projects featured in this special edition represent more than just successful developments; they are blueprints for the future of how we live, shop, and connect. Across the globe, developers and […]

URW and Cenomi Centers Sign Strategic Partnership In Saudi Arabia

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (“URW”) and Cenomi Centers have announced the signing of a strategic and franchising partnership agreement within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Under the terms of a 10-year partnership, with the option to extend for an additional 10 years, Cenomi Centers will exclusively license the Westfield brand from URW within the KSA shopping center market and deploy the brand vision and consistency of Westfield’s industry-leading experience for customers and partners to its top assets. URW will provide […]

G City Europe strengthens its development department – Piotr Myszka takes the position of Head of Development

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.

Piotr Myszka joined the team in March this year, taking on the role of Head of Development. He is responsible for the investment strategy and project development, overseeing the entire process – from market analysis and land acquisition, through design and financing, to implementation and commercialization. Piotr manages cooperation with partners, contractors, and public institutions, […]

Modernization of Innsbruck’s (Austria) first city-center mall begins: SILLPARK to become more modern, brighter and healthier

The approval of the planning permission has paved the way for the large-scale modernization of SILLPARK Innsbruck, to be implemented by fall 2026 while the center operates as normal and without impacting shop opening times. The construction work on the mall began a few days ago, with no restrictions for visitors. SILLPARK, Innsbruck’s first city-center shopping mall, opened in 1990 and will now also gain a completely new health park. The investment of EUR 30 million will make SILLPARK the most modern location in Tyrol for socializing and shopping.

The SILLPARK Innsbruck shopping center is about to undergo an extensive modernization and redesign process. SES Spar European Shopping Centers is investing more than EUR 30 million in the major “SILLPARK 3.0” project, thus making one of the most frequented shopping destinations in Tyrol fit for the coming decades. As well as a comprehensive architectural […]

Swiss Shopping Centers Lean Into Their Strengths Fuelled By Competition From Shein and Temu

The most recent Swiss Council Market Report 2025 shows that Swiss shopping centers will remain relevant and successful even in the face of strong competition from chinese e-tailers, such as Temu and Shein.

While Chinese online platforms are putting pressure on e-commerce, many centers are scoring points with experience, proximity and service – and are recording rising sales. The reason: Successful retail destinations today focus on experience orientation, flexibility and everyday usage concepts. Investors recognize the potential – and act accordingly. Quality of stay, design identity, gastronomic variety […]

Proptech Leader Placewise Has Been Acquired by Total Specific Solutions

Proptech/martech expert Placewise Group has been acquired by Total Specific Solutions (TSS), a leading international group of vertical market software companies.

The acquisition strengthens Placewise’s foundation for future growth in the commercial real estate sector and gives access to an incredible network of knowledge, best practices, and long-term expertise across a broad range of industries within the TSS network of companies. “With the backing of TSS, Placewise is better equipped than ever to maintain its position […]

BIRKENSTOCK CONTINUES ITS EXPANSION IN SPAIN WITH A NEW STORE IN SAN SEBASTIÁN

BIRKENSTOCK opened its first store in San Sebastián, as part of its continuing retail expansion in Spain.

Spanning 120 sq m, the expansive store brings the unique experience, quality and function, as well as the brand’s extensive archive of timeless designs and innovation to the Spanish coastal city, which is fringed by green forested mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The interior design of the store location, with its rare glass façade, reflects […]

Aldi’s Brand Strategy In The US Is Exceedingly Popular With Consumers

Las Vegas welcomed its first two Aldi stores in the presence of a large number of expectant consumers, which shows the retailer’s success with its popular brand strategy in the local market. The debuting stores opened as part of Aldi’s 9 billion euro expansion strategy in the country.

At the Henderson store at 621 Marks St., consumers lined up in large numbers already hours before the opening of Aldi’s first store in Las Vegas. The notable success comes as Aldi presents customers with the lowest prices of any national grocer in the region, as well as These new stores are part of the […]