M&S search ends with site in center
The store is planning to open its first Polish outlet at the corner of Emilii Plater and Aleje Jerozolimskie in the heart of the city center in a two-stage move to establish itself here.
Marks & Spencer first plans to set up a temporary store on a 2,000 square meter site leased by Zlota Center, a 50-50 joint venture between Holland-based ING Real Estate and municipal body Gmina Centrum, confirmed Jerzy Guz, vice president of Gmina Centrum.
"The construction could start anytime soon," Guz said late last week.
The building would be ready in just weeks as it would be put together from light, pre-fabricated elements, he said.
But that location would only serve as the first step in Marks & Spencer's search for a home, being used for just three years. At the end of that time, the temporary premises would be demolished and Marks & Spencer would move to the nearby Zlota Center. This is a 150,000 square meter (including 40,000 of retail space) scheme between the Warszawa Centralna railway station and the Holiday Inn hotel. The Zlota Center is expected to open in 2002 or 2003.
Neither Marks & Spencer nor ING Real Estate would confirm or deny the two-stage plan.
"There are many stories around, I neither confirm nor deny them," said Bruce Marshall, country manager for Marks and Spencer. He added that Marks & Spencer did plan to open a Warsaw store soon and an announcement is expected in coming weeks.
"We are hoping to open the store this spring," Marshall said. He added that the store would be located in the center of Warsaw.
The retail company, which has 650 stores in 31 countries, plans at least one store in Warsaw. If this is successful, it would expand to other major Polish cities, Marshall said.
Although the retailer and developer would not comment on the location, in addition to Guz, the Marks & Spencer plan was confirmed by officials with Warsaw's Dzielnica Srodmiescie. This district is a smaller part of Gmina Centrum, which last month agreed to lease about 2,000 square meters of land to Zlota Center, said an official who did want to be named.
Zlota Center asked to place a one-floor building for retail activities and an office for those supervising the construction of the Zlota Center, the source said. Zlota Center still needs to obtain a construction permit for the temporary building. However, this should not be as complicated as a normal permit because the building will not have any levels below ground and would ultimately be removed from the site.
While ING would not comment on the temporary location plan, it said it would be happy to have Marks & Spencer in its Zlota Center project.
"Marks & Spencer is ideal for our scheme and I think they realize we are ideal for them," said Jan van Hensbergen, president of Zlota Center. ING plans to start construction on the project in early 2000.
Marshall would not comment on the possibility of a permanent store in this location. "Zlota Center construction hasn't started yet so it's a little bit premature to discuss whether we will go there," he added.
Real estate players said that they would be somewhat surprised to see Marks & Spencer in a temporary location next to the central railway station. But the location at the corner of Aleje Jerozolimskie and Emilii Plater is perfect for retail, said Magdalena Fratczak, a retail agent with Jones Lang Wootton.
"The location is superb," she said, adding that the area has high pedestrian and car traffic as well as proximity to many office buildings. "Aleje Jerozolimskie is one of the best streets for retail in Warsaw," Fratczak said.
The only drawback is that a 2,000 square meter store could prove too small, and setting up a temporary location could confuse customers, Fratczak said.
Regardless of the exact location, many expect Marks & Spencer to be highly successful here because of strong demand for high-quality clothing.
"Whatever site they choose it will be good, because their product is definitely needed in Poland," said Peter Choynowski, chairman of real estate agency Prime Property. He added that during communism Poles who were able to visit the U.K. often flocked first to Marks & Spencer before heading off to Buckingham Palace and other sites.
"(In Marks & Spencer) you can always get the size you require," Choynowski said.
In Poland, like in every overseas location excluding Paris and Rome, Marks & Spencer operates through a franchise partner. Here it is Marks & Spencer Franchise established a year ago, which is owned by four individuals: American Mickey Kupperland who has been consulting for M&S for several years, Czech Dusan Mrozek who also develops M&S stores in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Maciej Raczkiewicz, who is president of Epstein development company here and Tomasz Holc who now is president of Marks & Spencer Franchise here.
Marks & Spencer first plans to set up a temporary store on a 2,000 square meter site leased by Zlota Center, a 50-50 joint venture between Holland-based ING Real Estate and municipal body Gmina Centrum, confirmed Jerzy Guz, vice president of Gmina Centrum.
"The construction could start anytime soon," Guz said late last week.
The building would be ready in just weeks as it would be put together from light, pre-fabricated elements, he said.
But that location would only serve as the first step in Marks & Spencer's search for a home, being used for just three years. At the end of that time, the temporary premises would be demolished and Marks & Spencer would move to the nearby Zlota Center. This is a 150,000 square meter (including 40,000 of retail space) scheme between the Warszawa Centralna railway station and the Holiday Inn hotel. The Zlota Center is expected to open in 2002 or 2003.
Neither Marks & Spencer nor ING Real Estate would confirm or deny the two-stage plan.
"There are many stories around, I neither confirm nor deny them," said Bruce Marshall, country manager for Marks and Spencer. He added that Marks & Spencer did plan to open a Warsaw store soon and an announcement is expected in coming weeks.
"We are hoping to open the store this spring," Marshall said. He added that the store would be located in the center of Warsaw.
The retail company, which has 650 stores in 31 countries, plans at least one store in Warsaw. If this is successful, it would expand to other major Polish cities, Marshall said.
Although the retailer and developer would not comment on the location, in addition to Guz, the Marks & Spencer plan was confirmed by officials with Warsaw's Dzielnica Srodmiescie. This district is a smaller part of Gmina Centrum, which last month agreed to lease about 2,000 square meters of land to Zlota Center, said an official who did want to be named.
Zlota Center asked to place a one-floor building for retail activities and an office for those supervising the construction of the Zlota Center, the source said. Zlota Center still needs to obtain a construction permit for the temporary building. However, this should not be as complicated as a normal permit because the building will not have any levels below ground and would ultimately be removed from the site.
While ING would not comment on the temporary location plan, it said it would be happy to have Marks & Spencer in its Zlota Center project.
"Marks & Spencer is ideal for our scheme and I think they realize we are ideal for them," said Jan van Hensbergen, president of Zlota Center. ING plans to start construction on the project in early 2000.
Marshall would not comment on the possibility of a permanent store in this location. "Zlota Center construction hasn't started yet so it's a little bit premature to discuss whether we will go there," he added.
Real estate players said that they would be somewhat surprised to see Marks & Spencer in a temporary location next to the central railway station. But the location at the corner of Aleje Jerozolimskie and Emilii Plater is perfect for retail, said Magdalena Fratczak, a retail agent with Jones Lang Wootton.
"The location is superb," she said, adding that the area has high pedestrian and car traffic as well as proximity to many office buildings. "Aleje Jerozolimskie is one of the best streets for retail in Warsaw," Fratczak said.
The only drawback is that a 2,000 square meter store could prove too small, and setting up a temporary location could confuse customers, Fratczak said.
Regardless of the exact location, many expect Marks & Spencer to be highly successful here because of strong demand for high-quality clothing.
"Whatever site they choose it will be good, because their product is definitely needed in Poland," said Peter Choynowski, chairman of real estate agency Prime Property. He added that during communism Poles who were able to visit the U.K. often flocked first to Marks & Spencer before heading off to Buckingham Palace and other sites.
"(In Marks & Spencer) you can always get the size you require," Choynowski said.
In Poland, like in every overseas location excluding Paris and Rome, Marks & Spencer operates through a franchise partner. Here it is Marks & Spencer Franchise established a year ago, which is owned by four individuals: American Mickey Kupperland who has been consulting for M&S for several years, Czech Dusan Mrozek who also develops M&S stores in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Maciej Raczkiewicz, who is president of Epstein development company here and Tomasz Holc who now is president of Marks & Spencer Franchise here.
