Foreign brands interested in Warsaw high streets – CBRE

Foreign brands are interested in entering Poland, which is the retail leader in the CEE region, but are often deterred by the scarcity of available space in Warsaw’s and Kraków’s high streets, said Joanna Mroczek, head of Consultancy and Research at CBRE, at a conference dedicated to the development perspectives of Warsaw high streets. “Foreign brands are more willing than Polish brands to invest in high streets, likely because of their experience with high streets in Western markets,” Mroczek explained. One of the biggest limitations for the development of Warsaw high streets is the ownership issue of units located there. Some units are communal and some are privately owned. CBRE postulated that a central re-privatization law, reinstating the position of the Chief City Architect, as well as better dialogue between investors, residents and the city are necessary to allow retail to expand on high streets.