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credit: URW

URW sells 15% stake in Paris shopping center Westfield Forum des Halles

Westfield Forum des Halles is a 77,600sqm flagship shopping center located in the heart of Paris. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has sold a 15% stake to CDC Investissement Immobilier, the real estate arm of French public financial institution Caisse des Dépôts (CDC).

credit: Mallcomm

The retail renaissance: A new approach

Over the past couple of years, it has become evident that retail is seeing a significant resurgence. This is across shopping centers, large destination indoor malls, and retail parks and outlets, explains Mark Bruce, Data & Insights Director at Mallcomm. While some may have dismissed the retail sector, others have recognized that despite some challenges, there is a great opportunity.

credit: Ingka Centres

INGKA CENTRES FUTURES: CO-CREATING THE FUTURE OF MEETING PLACES

Ingka Centres Futures is looking for partners to shape the future of retail. By collaborating with businesses of all sizes, the platform is transforming traditional shopping spaces into vibrant community hubs where people can connect, explore, and experience retail in a whole new way.

Left-to-right: The Playce exterior, Berlin, and The Alchemist restaurant and cocktail bar at The Playce. /// credit: Rory Gardiner, The Alchemist

RETAIL’S RENAISSANCE BY BROOKFIELD PROPERTIES: A NEW PURPOSE NEEDS A NEW EQUATION

Over the past decade, the retail landscape has undergone a seismic transformation redefining the very essence of the sector. Customers’ expectations of convenience, personalization, experience, community, and sustainability have changed dramatically. The purpose of physical stores is being redefined, with goods and products taking a backseat to experiences. Today, successful retail destinations are those that cultivate connection, joy, and community.

"HOUSE OF SILHOUETTE" in Vienna, Austria. /// credit: umdasch The Store Makers

HOUSE OF SILHOUETTE in Vienna: umdasch The Store Makers Create A Unique Retail Experience

With the opening of the ‘HOUSE OF SILHOUETTE’ on December 2, the renowned eyewear manufacturer Silhouette Group is setting new standards for premium optics in Vienna on the occasion of its 60th anniversary. In a historic building at the prestigious address Herrengasse 1, an exclusive store awaits visitors, allowing them to immerse themselves in the world of premium eyewear.

Europa-Galerie Saarbrücken, Germany. /// credit: Sonae Sierra

Best-Practice Example: Europa-Galerie Saarbrücken — “Operators Need To Find Neighboring Tenants That Can Build Synergies”

Retail is polarizing towards the absolute top locations, among them metropolitan locations, and A-cities. There are many cases proving this but there are also exceptions – and not just any, but successful exceptions. The recent DeepTalk online-discussion took a closer look at one such exception and looked a little behind the letting and positioning strategies of the Europa-Galerie Saarbrücken in Germany, one of the outstanding best-practice examples.

Left-to-right: Yurdaer Kahraman, CEO and Board Member of FİBA Commercial Properties; With its 17,000 sq m glass ceiling, Star Mall in Shenyang, China, lets the sunlight in and creates a feeling of shopping in the open air. /// credit: FİBA CP

FIBA COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES: THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSUMER NEEDS-RELATED PROJECTS

Architecture, service, offerings, technology, and sustainability—these are the key elements of consumer needs-related projects. Fiba Commercial Properties explains how these aspects are properly implemented and integrated and, in the end, deliver a unique, captivating experience that goes beyond what traditional retail developments offer.

The Tirana East Gate (TEG) shopping center in Albania was conceived from the beginning as a flagship property and is constantly being developed as such. /// credit: ACREM

Mall Management à la TEG: “For Retailers We Offer More Than Shop Space – We Offer Possibilities In A Vibrant Market”

ACREM is the mall management company behind TEG (Tirana East Gate). The shopping center in Albania set a completely new standard regarding professionalism and efficiency, resulting in the Albanians not having to hide behind the Western industry giants in terms of footfall and catchment areas. ACROSS Management Director Reinhard Winiwarter discussed with Elda Hysenbelli, CEO at ACREM, and Joana Korimi, Head of Marketing at ACREM, what mall management and marketing à la TEG looks like, what their customers demand, and why some customers feel so comfortable in the center that they even get married there.

credit: MEC, ACROSS

Retail PIN – The new think tank for the future of retail real estate

The challenges facing the retail real estate sector are more significant than ever. Future-oriented solutions for retail properties such as retail parks are urgently needed – this is precisely where the Retail PIN comes in. This newly founded think tank, an initiative of six leading companies in the retail real estate industry, pools strategic expertise and a shared vision: to actively and sustainably shape the future of retail locations.

BALFIN Group: “New markets need courageous people.”

The BALFIN Group has brought nothing less than the idea of shopping centers to Albania. The group is not only a developer and operator of assets but has also developed into one of the most influential retail and wholesale players in the Western Balkans. “It takes courage, trust, and patience to break new ground,” says Julian Mane, Vice President Retail of the BALFIN Group. “But whoever is among the first on a new market will also be the most successful.” In the extensive interview with ACROSS, Mane explains, among other things, how he convinces brands to enter the Albanian market, what they can expect there, and why retail parks will be the future concept for the country.

credit: Eurofund

LEISURE IS HOW YOU GET PEOPLE TO SHOPPING PLACES – FOOD IS HOW YOU GET THEM TO STAY

Ian Sandford, President of Eurofund Group, creates places that combine shopping, gastronomy, and leisure, ensuring that everyone finds a reason to go to a center every day. He coined the term “shopping resort” as a result. After numerous very successful projects, particularly with Puerto Venecia in Spain and Ubbo in Lisbon, he is now bringing his idea of a shopping resort to the Rhein-Ruhr Zentrum in Germany. In this interview, he explains what managers can learn from goldfish and why courage is more crucial than ever. He also shares his plans for the Rhein-Ruhr Zentrum and his other assets.

credit: Mall Development MENA Forum

Mall Development MENA Forum 2024: Pioneering the Future of Retail in the MENA Region

The MENA region’s retail landscape is undergoing a transformative phase, with the mall industry projected to grow from USD 808.51 billion in 2024 to USD 1,401.32 billion by 2032. Against this dynamic backdrop, the inaugural Mall Development MENA Forum 2024 is set to take place from November 11-12, at the Le Meridian Hotel Dubai. This landmark event will bring together industry leaders, stakeholders, and policymakers to explore the future of mall development in the region.

Shopping and healthcare facilities in one: SILLPARK is investing over EUR 30 million in modernizing the center, and in creating a service-oriented health center for the people of Innsbruck. /// credit: Thomas Steinlechner

SES To Invest Over 30 Million Euros In SILLPARK From 2025

SILLPARK, the largest inner-city shopping center in Innsbruck, Austria, in terms of area, and which attracts over 5 million visitors a year, is to remain fully operational while it undergoes modernization and is enhanced with a very special innovation: in a first for Austria’s shopping malls, a health park of more than 3,000 sq m in area is being built here.

credit: BALFIN Group

Publisher’s Recommendation: All (Western) Eyes on TEG and Albania

The Balkans remain largely overlooked in our industry, despite the region’s significant growth. I have always been keen on highlighting developments that go underappreciated but hold remarkable potential. The Tirana East Gate (TEG) in Albania is one such gem. Backed by the BALFIN GROUP, a highly successful and innovative developer, TEG is a standout that deserves attention for its promising role in shaping market trends in the region.

Left-to-right: Thomas Reichenauer, Managing Director at ROS Retail Outlet Shopping; Designer Outlet Algarve’s new plaza, center extension is opening in Summer 2025. /// credit: ROS Retail Outlet Shopping

ALL SIGNS POINT TO FURTHER GROWTH AT ROS RETAIL OUTLET SHOPPING

With the FREY Group as a new financially strong property partner providing robust support, ROS Retail Outlet Shopping is setting the stage for further growth and enhanced premium outlet shopping destinations across Europe. Major expansions at four centers and two new developments are set to be completed within two years.

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Shaping Spaces: Top Placemaking Projects of 2025
Across the globe, developers and architects are reimagining what it means to create “retail space.” The projects featured in this special edition, selected by leading industry experts, represent more than just successful developments; they are blueprints for the future of how we live, shop, and connect.
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