ZBS to build first open-air mall in Bulgaria

Developer and asset manager ZBS is to begin construction of the first open-air shopping centre in Bulgaria and the Balkan region in March next year.

Located on a six-hectare site in the Izgrev retail district which stretches several kilometres along the Sofia motorway, the Bourgas Stand shopping centre will provide a total gross leasing area of 27,141 m². The mall will cover 6,416 m².

The Strand is designed by London-based architects GMW,

ZBS says that Phase I of the development is already under construction. Phase II, totalling 27,141 m² of retail units, will be open in the early 2010 and is now available to pre-let.

The company is also developing open-air malls in the Bulgarian cities of Pazardzhid and Haskovo.