22 Cities Will Have Modern Shopping Centers By 2009

Presently, only six Romanian cities have modern shopping centers. So far, investors were interested in building such centers in cities with population over 100.000, but projects have been recenly announced for towns where population barely exceeds 60.000, according to Colliers International

Five shopping centers of 10.000 square meters each are scheduled to open this year in Bucharest, Alba Iulia, Targu Mures, Brasov, Vaslui and a 20.000 square meter center in Bacau. According to a press release sent to our newspaper, as of April, Pitesti will accommodate the first Euromall, with a shopping gallery of 20.500 sqm.

The largest project will be developed in Cluj, where the Iulius Group will build a 35.000 square meter mall. For the end of the year, Constanta will have two more large commercial projects, besides Tomis Mall, occupying 20.000 sqm.

Collier International specialists believe that the small projects sheduled for the current year will prepare the market for the next year"s commercial boom. In 2008 , such a large number of shopping centers will be delivered that almost every town with a significant population will have its own modern commercial center.

In Bucharest, commercial spaces totalling 288.000 sqm are expected to be delivered in 2008. The buildings are located in almost all Bucharest neighbourhoods, but the eastern area is less developed from this point of view.

Two new malls will be built in Cluj and a 25.000 sqm Euromall in Galati, while Interex in Focsani will extend its shopping gallery by 14.000 sqm. Iasi waits for an Era Shopping Center with a Carrefour hipermarket totalling 44.000 sqm. A new 34.000 sqm shopping center will be built in Pitesti and Galleria projects are announced for Buzau, Piatra Neamt, Suceava and Arad.