This move comes after Tati, present in Romania via a franchisee, decided to shutter due to international financial problems. The store of the discount brand took up 1,700 square meters of space and sold clothes (40%), beauty and home décor products.
The decision to go with the two big names – World Class and Decathlon, could draw other types of customers to the center, considering gyms are an attraction. Decathlon stores are large stores and sell products for dozens of sports, so the retailer will be one of the anchors of the mall, along with Carrefour and H&M.
Veranda Mall, developed by Prodplast Imobiliare, has a 30,000 square meter surface area at the moment, plus 15,000 square meters of space outdoors, occupied by a children’s playground and an ice skating rink (operational during winter only). Considering it is already almost 100% occupied (June 2018, according to the latest data available to ZF), its owners, the Pogonaru family, are already working on an expansion project offering 7,000 square meters of lettable area.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)