Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield completes modernizations at Centro

On 11th July, Centro Oberhausen celebrates the completion of the two-year modernization project. Together with partner CPP Investment Board, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield invested around 20 million euros in the refurbishment. Half of the investment sum went into the core of the revitalisation, the redesign of the Coca-Cola Oase food court.

Coca-Cola Oase was already one of the most successful food courts in Europe. In the course of the reconstruction, the area was enlarged and the attractivity was increased. From now on there will be a total of 1,300 seats and 20 gastronomy tenants on 7,500 square meters area on two floors. “The destinations of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield are characterised by a unique combination of design, a tailor-made marketing and event strategy and an attractive tenant mix. A varied and tasteful gastronomic offer is essential in order to raise the quality of stay in the center to the highest possible level and to further increase the dwell time of our visitors. We are therefore very pleased that the modernizations, especially in the food court, have now been successfully completed and that Centro is shining in new splendour overall,” explains Paul-Eric Perchaud, Director of Operations at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Germany.

Service offers, double-height shop fronts and food court
Following a design optimization of the walls and Centro’s characteristic load-bearing pillars, the larger measures in the mall started in May 2017. New lounge areas with additional charging stations were installed. By expanding the freely available WiFi in the entire center, the modernization concept meets the demanding requirements of the customers. In order to give tenants an eye-catching presentation of their own brand, additional double-height shop fronts were integrated. The car parks in the center were also modernized.

From March to November 2018, during the first phase of food court revitalization, the entire first floor was developed structurally, thereby the area of the food court was increased by 800 square meters. The focus of the conversions on this floor was on increasing comfort and services. For this, new furnishings were used, a kids area was integrated and additional escalators and elevators installed.

In a second phase from January to the beginning of July 2019, work was carried out on the ground floor, which now completes the modernization of the food court. In addition to the new room layout, many plant arrangements and new furnishings provide more feel-good atmosphere. This gives the food court a pleasant and natural character. Both floors are equipped with many services as well as additional advertising facilities and info screens. Further, many tenants, including McDonald’s, Subway and Mövenpick, have renewed their shop concepts. In November 2018, the burger chain Five Guys also opened a new branch.

“With the expansion and modernization of the food court, we are sharpening our gastronomic profile at Centro Oberhausen even more. With 20 tenants in Coca-Cola Oase, seven concepts in the mall and 20 units on the promenade in front of Centro, we offer one of the most exciting gastronomic hotspots in the region. In addition to the attractive retail and various entertainment and cultural concepts, this offer plays a central role in Centro’s mix of usages,” says Christian Zimmermann, Head of Center Management at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Germany.

Flagship shopping destination in the Ruhr area: Centro in Oberhausen
With a total area of 242,000 square metres, Centro in Oberhausen is the largest shopping and experience area in Germany. Around 250 shops, thereof 47 gastronomy concepts, a multifunctional arena with 12,500 seats, the Legoland® Discovery Centre and a cinema are located on the site. The entire area attracts more than 20 million visitors every year. The direct surroundings in the Neue Mitte district also offer a theatre, a trampoline park, an aquarium as well as a fun pool and the well-known Oberhausen exhibition centre Gasometer. Direct motorway connections as well as tram and bus stops directly in front of the door provide Centro with optimal connections to the regional and supra-regional infrastructure.

A new concept for the area of the former Centro leisure park will be presented in 2019.

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