Food outlets to move from shopping centers to high streets

Before the outbreak of the pandemic, Poles visiting shopping centers eagerly used the gastronomic offer. According to CBRE data, more than half of the customers decided to eat in the food court at least once a month. Currently, catering tenants, who on average account for about 10 percent of all tenants in shopping centers, are in a difficult situation because restaurants remain open, rent is paid, even though the turnover is very low. CBRE experts indicate that in the future this situation may result in the exit of catering tenants from shopping centers and greater diversification of locations, with an emphasis on high streets.

"The share of gastronomy in a shopping center depends largely on the overall concept of the facility. In older buildings, gastronomy had rather a secondary and complementary function. In modern shopping centers, the entertainment and dining area plays an extremely important role. Before the outbreak of the pandemic, it was said that shopping centers are changing from shopping to leisure zones, hence the growing importance of restaurants and entertainment, such as cinemas. mainly high streets,”  Renata Kamińska, a high street specialist at CBRE, said.

A study commissioned by CBRE before the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic showed that Poles regularly visiting shopping centers were eagerly using the gastronomic offer. Every tenth customer decided to eat in the food court every day or 2-3 times a week. 12 percent of consumers ate this way once a week, 17 percent 2-3 times a month, and 15 percent once a month. In total, 54 percent of visitors to shopping centers used restaurants at least once a month. And the offer was quite substantial –about 10 percent of all premises in shopping centers are occupied by catering facilities.

(WBJ)