First Boxpark mall pops up on European continent

UK-based pop-up mall Boxpark has signed a rental contract with Dutch development consortium MediaWharf for a 6,500 m² warehouse on the NDSM wharf in north Amsterdam. The site is the first on the European continent for the pop-up mall operator which opened its first location in Shoreditch in east London at end-2011. Boxpark International and its partner Dutch listed retail specialist Corio view the Amsterdam site as a springboard to the rest of Europe.

The Amsterdam mall will open its doors in 2013 in a warehouse comprising 120 sea containers stacked on top of each other and combining retail and leisure activities. Boxpark, which is responsible for the marketing of the pop-up mall, aims to close turnover-linked rental contracts with fashion and lifestyle brandsm galleries, bars and cafes. The operator plans to organise indoor and outdoor events including alternative markets, skating events and performances with programmes featuring DJs, live music, dance and theatre.

It is expected that many of the participants at the Boxpark mall in London will also go to Amsterdam, but trendsetting Dutch companies will also be encouraged to take part.