Austrian shopping centre developer and operator Spar European Shopping Centers (SES) has finally launched its latest scheme in Ljubljana, Slovenia, after a two month delay caused by the pandemic.
According to SES, the Aleja mall represents the first completely new shopping centre to be opened in Europe following the coronavirus shutdown.
Work on the €150 mln scheme, which comprises 80 shops, restaurants and service providers across 32,000 m2, had already completed on time in the capital's Siska neighbourhood by March, but the rapid evolution of the Covid-19 crisis halted its official opening, planned for 19 March.
SES CEO Marcus Wild described the delay at the time as a 'bizarre and financially extraordinary situation for the shopping partners and ourselves as the operator'.
Slovenia entered lockdown mode at midnight on 19 March, with the government prohibiting public gatherings and ordering that only essential retailers could stay open - including grocery stores, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, post offices, cleaning services and car repair shops.
The centre's grand opening had already been put on ice by that stage, although Wild admitted that 'the crisis came very quickly and took us all by surprise'.
However, on 8 May SES was able to finally oversee the partial launch of the mall, with 21 stores opening to the public, including cafes with outside terraces.
The firm said that Aleja was able to fully launch on 20 May, with additional hygiene procedures in place across the shopping centre to meet government requirements. Certain elements including the Planet Lollipop children's adventure world and parts of Aleja Sky, a 6,200 m2 sports and adventure zone on the roof, are scheduled to open at a later date.
