Multi Development signs up Inditex for Ukrainian mall

Multi Development Ukraine and Spanish retail chain Inditex have signed a lease agreement for six brands covering 5,000 m2 in Multi's new development in Lviv, Ukraine.

The six brands comprise Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti and Oysho and cover the full range of fashion brands Inditex is developing in the Ukrainian market. All Inditex brands will be located in the main mall with the Zara store covering nearly 2,500 m2 over two floors connected via an internal escalator and forming an anchor on both shopping floors.

Multi's new mall in Ukraine, Forum Lviv, will be located in the city centre, just a short walking distance from the Lviv’s main square and famous Opera House. The three-storey shopping centre will be topped by a level containing a cinema, leisure facilities and restaurants that overlook the city and will have a total GLA of 36,000 m2.

It will also have an underground parking garage of 620 places. Multi claims Forum Lviv - created by Multi’s in-house design group T+TDesign, is the first project of its kind in Lviv city. Multi is developing Forum Lviv shopping centre with local partner Galereja-Centr and shareholder Budhouse Group. EBRD and Unicredit are providing the financing.

Inditex entered Ukraine in 2008 and has opened 46 stores up to now. The agreement with Inditex and other deals with supermarket Amstor, electronics supermarket Comfy, cinema operator Planeta Kino, children entertainment operator Igroland, Polish fashion retailer LPP (4 brands) and MTI retail group (5 brands) have brought the pre-let occupancy level at Forum Lviv close to 75%, Ronald Dasbach, Managing Director Multi Development Central and Eastern Europe said.

'Multi and Inditex have a long history of lasting and fruitful cooperation in multiple projects around Europe and Turkey. Bringing highly respected European brands to our project is giving both Forum Lviv and the inner-city of Lviv a great boost.'