170 empty spaces in Bucharest malls

Ziarul Financiar has taken a tour of eight Bucharest malls to see how things stand as far as shopping centres are concerned. The conclusions? Bucuresti Mall (Vitan) has the fewest empty spaces. Grand Arena has the most. The latest projects, Sun Plaza and Cotroceni Park have yet to fill all their spaces. The south is more affected than the west and the north of the city.

Older retailers on the market have recently talked about how a few years ago, they would join a waiting list in order to get a space in one of the top shopping centres in the city. A walk through the eight malls (considered traditional, with retail parks or other outlet-type stores excluded) in Bucharest is enough to persuade you that those times are gone.

A ZF analysis shows there are around 170 spaces available in these projects, at least seven in each project analysed. Whether small or big, located on the ground floor or on upper floors, or used for clothing stores, coffee shops or restaurants, retailers who want to "go against the flow" have a wide variety to choose from, with rent having being significantly cut in most projects.