Around 1,000 guests celebrated the expansion of MURPARK shopping center in Graz-Liebenau during a VIP gala on Wednesday, 22 August 2018. 19 new retail, gastronomy, and service businesses have been added to the shop mix of the center, which has been expanded by 6,500 sqm to more than 43,000 sqm.
The last building block of the expansion was todays opening of VAPIANO. With a total of more than 90 shops, MURPARK not only has an even more extensive industry mix, but it also reflects an international trend with its gastronomy share of nearly 10 percent. Owner and operator SES Spar European Shopping Centers is strengthening MURPARK’s position as a supraregional shopping magnet via this 30-million-euro investment. Two concepts have opened for the first time in Styria: Children’s fashion by Okaïdi and coffee & doughnut specialist Dunkin’ Donuts.
“Our customers want to feel comfortable and enjoy a modern lifestyle. An urban environment calls for quality of stay, a beautiful atmosphere, and high-quality gastronomy. Shopping alone is not enough these days. When expanding existing or developing new centers, we, therefore, invest in a high gastronomy share, with a special focus on quality, up to highest-level cuisine. MURPARK represents an investment in the future. The mix of local gastronomy celebrities and established international food brands provides the necessary variety,” explained Marcus Wild, CEO of SES Spar European Shopping Centers, with regard to the strategy.
Six new restaurants have been added to the center’s gastronomy mix. Dunkin’ Donuts has opened its first location in Styria at MURPARK.
Dean&David, a Munich-based company, offers uncompromising freshness as well as health-conscious and light nutrition through its concept at MURPARK: simple, healthy, hand-prepared food, without flavor enhancement, made from products provided by predominantly regional suppliers. Asian, Mexican, and Mediterranean Cuisine
International flair is breathed into the center via Henry Sanchez, which offers Mexican cuisine, Oishii, which offers Asian delicacies, and pasta specialist Vapiano, an established international food brand. Gotthardt’s Bakery rounds off the new offering with an extensive breakfast and brunch range.
Existing partners have also undergone renovation. Under the “Tutto köstlich” motto, Italian joie de vivre and Austrian coffee house culture converge in the completely renovated Café Cappuccino at MURPARK. Following the remodeling phase, the popular meeting place for coffee connoisseurs shines in its new splendor on an area of approximately 140 sqm. Guests can choose between Mediterranean delicacies and local classic pastries. INTERSPAR has created a modern and trendy ambience and allows its customers to enjoy Italian flair.
At MURPARK, anchor company INTERSPAR is presented as Graz’s most modern consumer market, with the structural relaunch of several product ranges and the large-scale conversion of its cashier area.
It was of particular importance to the operator, SES, to establish an architectural focal point at the successful MURPARK location, which merges the existing building with the expansion in order to form a single structure. The unusual facade design and the spacious interior give MURPARK a very unique exterior and interior appearance.
Since March 2017, approximately 200 employees from various construction companies were continuously employed on site to construct the expansion. Since the opening of the new shops, MURPARK Graz has counted a total of approximately 1,200 employees at more than 90 retail, service, and catering businesses, which corresponds to an increase of around 200 jobs at the location.
