Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield plans to sell sales centers in NRW!

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield plans to sell sales centers in NRW!

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield plans to separate from four shopping centers in Germany. Two of the affected locations are located in North Rhine-Westphalia: the Centro in Oberhausen and the Ruhr Park in Bochum. The latter was renamed "Westfield Ruhr-Park" in 2024 after 60 years of operation. Despite the sales considerations, the two popular shopping centers in North Rhine-Westphalia are not up for debate.

The locations that may affect the sale are "Palais Vest" in Recklinghausen and "Minto" in Mönchengladbach. The sales plan is part of a strategy of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to overcome increased costs, especially with regard to the overseas quarters in Hamburg, which is to be opened on April 8, 2025. Sales in Germany are not satisfactory, while the destinations in Spain and France do more profitable. At the moment, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is not specifically expressing the sales plans.

rebranding of the Ruhr Park

The renaming of the Ruhr Park in Bochum is related to the 60th anniversary of the center, which was opened in 1964. The rebranding, which is to be celebrated on September 26, 2024, makes Westfield Ruhr-Park the third Westfield goal in Germany, next to the Westfield Centro and the Westfield Hamburg-Übersekartier. The Westfield brand is valued for its high standards in the areas of lifestyle, shopping, gastronomy and leisure.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield plans to develop the Ruhr Park into a more attractive contact point for the Bochum region. Andreas Hohlmann, Managing Director of Urw for Austria and Germany, emphasizes the combination of local tradition and international brand strength. Lars Horn, Center Manager, emphasizes the added value that the center offers for both guests as well as for the city and the tenants.

highlights of the Westfield Ruhr Park

The Westfield Ruhr-Park comprises a rental area of ​​around 118,800 square meters with over 150 shops, a UCI cinema and a variety of restaurants and cafés. Special highlights in the future are the opening of the Boda Borg Gaming concept in April and the installation of Germany's largest photovoltaic system on the roof of the shopping center. This will include over 3,600 modules and generate over 1.4 million kilowatt hours annually, which corresponds to the consumption of around 410 single -family houses.

Unibail Rodamco-Westfield has also set itself the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 compared to the 2015 values. With modern mobility services, the Westfield Ruhr-Park facilitates access for both pedestrians and drivers, including Tesla charging stations.

shopping centers in North Rhine-Westphalia

shopping centers play an important role in North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state in Germany. These centers are not only meeting points for social interactions, they are also cultural mirrors and create numerous jobs that contribute to the local economy. The development of shopping centers started after the Second World War and led to the large locations that we know today.

The Ruhr Park in Bochum is one of the largest outdoor shopping centers in NRW with 160 shops and an extensive catering area. It is a prime example of how such centers have developed over the years. Together with the Centro in Oberhausen, which is the largest shopping center in NRW, they are essential elements of urban life.

The future challenges for shopping centers, such as the competition from online trading or the need to adapt to customer needs, require innovative solutions and a focus on sustainability. Nevertheless, the relevance of these centers remains undisputed because they attract both locals and tourists and fuel the regional business.

The dynamics of the shopping landscape in NRW is strong and offers both opportunities and challenges, with the aim of continuous adaptation and improvement.