Shopping complexes in the center of Kaliningrad are withering away and changing format

Shopping complexes in the center of Kaliningrad are “languishing” and changing their format. Areas on the outskirts of the city are more suitable for locating shops. This opinion was expressed by the governor’s adviser Vyacheslav Genne in a conversation with a Kaliningrad.Ru correspondent.

We see what is happening to shopping centers now – they are withering away. They are constantly changing formats, looking for themselves. Businesses close and open, collaborations occur. They have an unenviable history. Most likely, they will be repurposed, as happened with “Europe”. The empty office tower, which overlooks Teatralnaya, has been converted into a 100-room hotel. The owners probably regret that they missed the mark with the marketing idea: they didn’t need so many offices. And such a near future awaits both Clover and Plaza,” Genne said.

The governor’s adviser stressed that a shopping center will not be built on Korolevskaya Gora. In his opinion, such facilities should be located on the outskirts of the city. As an example, he cited Baltia Mall, where “people can safely park and receive services.”

Part of the Europa shopping and entertainment complex in Kaliningrad was converted into a hotel in 2017. An apart-hotel with 82 rooms was opened there. Now there are more than five large shopping centers within a kilometer radius from Victory Square.