Bucharest mall reshuffles tenant mix: Debenhams shop in March, expanded Koton and Mango stores

The Bucharest – based shopping center Bucuresti Mall will host a new Debenhams shop starting March this year, when the fashion retailer will return to Romania. The store will be located on three floors in the shopping mall, in the same location where it previously had a shop, which was closed down in 2013. Debenhams first entered the Romanian market in 2007 as a franchise owned by Romanian businessman Octavian Radu. In 2013, Radu closed down the six Debenhams stores he operated. The last two units were in Plaza Romania and Bucuresti Mall shopping centers. Bucuresti Mall recently welcomed a new retailer, LC Waikiki, and is currently awaiting retailer Koton to relocate to the ground floor and expand to 1,700 sqm. Mango will also expand to some 1,400 sqm, Bucuresti Mall recently announced. Bucuresti Mall opened in 1997, developed by Anchor Group, which still owns it. The same company owns Plaza Romania mall, Anchor Plaza offices, and developed InCity Residences. Anchor Group invested some EUR 350 million in Romania so far. editor@romania-insider.com