Last year alone, Galeria Młociny, owned by EPP and Echo Investment, signed leases with more than 20 fashion, service and F&B concepts occupying a total area of 6,000 sqm. Hala Hutnik has also been redesigned, enriching and developing the social and entertainment offer of the Warsaw shopping centre. A loyalty application was implemented to continuously engage Galeria Młociny’s consumers, giving users the opportunity to take advantage of many special offers and earn attractive prizes. The beginning of 2023 brought even further changes. Visitors can already enjoy the offer of Sinsay and Green Caffé Nero, which will soon be complemented by GUDI Home, a dynamically growing chain of off-price stores.
Strong market position
Galeria Młociny is the youngest shopping centre in the Polish capital city and has built a strong position in the market in less than four years. It is a place generous with attractive shop concepts and a wide range of brands, as well as numerous leisure facilities. These elements, together with interesting events, have appealed to customers, who appreciate the centre’s offer and the changes taking place there. This is also reflected in footfall and tenant turnover.
“We ended the year 2022 with strong results – footfall in the second half of 2022 was up 14 percent compared to the same period in 2019, and turnover in this period was higher by more than 33 percent. The centre is nearly 100 percent leased. Behind us are significant debuts at Galeria Młociny including Sinsay and Sports Direct, as well as the presentation of Hala Hutnik in its new design, allowing visitors to enjoy a modern and astonishing dining and entertainment offer. A further significant tenant-mix enhancement is on the horizon with the upcoming opening of GUDI Home. These changes are already meeting with a positive response from customers, who appreciate the diversity of the offer and the comfort of shopping in Galeria Młociny. This year we will surprise them more than once with novelties,” Michał Pękala, Asset Manager at EPP, comments on the results and changes.
“The success of Galeria Młociny is due to many factors and the hard work of a cooperative team. However, its biggest differentiator is the fact that from the very beginning, it has been changing along with the customers’ needs. The role of shopping centres has evolved into a meeting place, where entertainment and food offers are as important as retail. We are aware of this when selecting the new tenants and planning the layout of their outlets. In 2023, we will focus on the commercialisation process and providing our customers with an offer that is unbeatable on the Polish market,” says Szymon Mińczuk, Regional Leasing Director at Echo Investment.
Enriched offer in many categories
Over the past year, Galeria Młociny signed lease agreements with more than 20 popular brands from various segments. The service portfolio was strengthened by tailoring repairs, haberdashery, the KODANO Optyk optical store and the Przyjaciółka Przyjaciółki beauty salon, among others. Motor enthusiasts can do their shopping in Inter Motors, while those interested in elegant clothing will enjoy the offer of Ella Boutique salon. Active lifestyle lovers will appreciate the extensive offer of the two-story Sports Direct store. There is also a non-food discount store TEDi and Bacówka Towary Tradycyjne with local specialities. Galeria Młociny has expanded its sustainable fashion offer through a partnership with Butik Cyrkularny and relocating Bazar Miejski with second-hand clothing. The shopping centre is also relying on alternative forms of entertainment, entering into cooperation with the Ado-art, a modern art gallery. However, this is not the end of the changes that customers will experience in the coming months at Galeria Mlociny – the centre has already signed agreements with new tenants.
LPP’s entry into Galeria Młociny
Sinsay, the first brand belonging to the LPP group to join the tenants of Galeria Młociny, made its debut in the Bielany district of Warsaw on 29 January 2023. Sinsay’s offer is aimed, among others, at women who like fashion, as well as men who prefer the casual, urban style. The brand’s range also includes comfortable and functional clothing for mothers, as well as products and accessories for children. Home furnishings, pet accessories and a range of make-up and grooming cosmetics complete the offer. The tenant has taken an area of approx. 930 sqm on the first floor.
Not just shopping
The role of shopping centres is changing, and they have evolved from shopping destinations to a place for meetings and leisure activities. In response to this trend, Galeria Młociny has started cooperation with the Green Caffé Nero coffee shop chain, which opened its cafe in January. In addition to a wide range of drinks, the menu also includes snacks for people with food intolerances. The coffee shop of 180 sqm is located on the first floor and has the unique Green Caffé Nero design.
A wide range of products from GUDI Home
Galeria Młociny launches cooperation with the GUDI Home chain of large-format stores. The shop will offer customers a diverse range of products at affordable prices. It will include footwear, accessories, toys or items for fishing, DIY, as well as new technologies enthusiasts. The leased area of nearly 800 sqm will be located on the -1 level. GUDI Home is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2023.
New Hala Hutnik
Changes in Galeria Młociny have also come to the +2 level. A diverse gastronomic offer, including Middle Eastern, American and Italian cuisine, meets exceptional entertainment. In the newly designed space of Hala Hutnik, customers can spend time with family or friends playing shuffleboard, Pac-Man, flippers or basketball machines. It also hosts cultural events, including concerts or sports broadcasts. The design of Hala Hutnik is inspired by the nearby steel mill, and industrial touches have been applied to the facility to reflect its history.
Młociny with loyalty app
In addition to the development of its tenant portfolio, Galeria Młociny is also expanding in the digital world, providing customers with interesting solutions. Visitors can already use the Kupujesz I Masz loyalty app. By registering receipts from stores in Galeria Młociny, in return, they receive virtual points called Złociny, which they can later exchange for attractive prizes. The loyalty program has been joined by 95 percent of the centre’s tenants, who have prepared unique offers for app users. The application can be downloaded from both the Google Store and the App Store.
A unique selection of tenants, the largest food and entertainment zone in Poland and innovative interior design make Galeria Młociny an exceptional destination on Warsaw’s commercial map. Located in the Bielany district, close to a transport hub that serves 24 million passengers a year, the multi-functional facility offers 81,000 sqm of retail and office space, housing more than 200 shops and 30 cafes. It is also the debut destination for many fashion brands and food and beverage concepts in the Polish market.
Galeria Młociny stands out for its innovative approach to the design of its meeting, entertainment and dining areas. The dining and entertainment area– which occupies the entire +2 level and is connected to the green roof garden–- has been divided into different functional zones. Hala Hutnik offers a wide range of food and beverage options, including well-known chain restaurants as well as local and unique concepts. Architects from the renowned Broadway Malyan studio have brought the atmosphere of cosy pubs, street food and casual dining to Warsaw’s Bielany district, as well as outdoor dining in the midst of greenery. It is the first concept of its kind in Poland. Galeria Młociny will also feature a multiplex cinema with VIP seating, a two-storey Zdrofit fitness club, a bowling alley, a medical centre and children’s play areas.
The investors in Galeria Młociny are EPP (70 percent of the shares) and Echo Investment (30 percent of the shares). The former manages the newly opened complex. The latter was responsible for the development and leasing process.