Mitiska REIM, the leading specialist investor in European convenience real estate, has today announced the sale of a 6.7ha land plot to Momentum Leisure to develop a theme and water park adjacent to the Europa Centralna retail center.
Located on a 27ha site in Gliwice, Poland, Europa Centralna is the largest retail scheme in the city with a gross leasable area (GLA) of 67,000m2 and parking for 2,000 cars. Mitiska REIM acquired the retail center in March 2023 on behalf of the MEREP 3 fund.
As part of its value-add investment strategy, Mitiska REIM plans to reposition Europa Centralna as a modern and sustainable convenience real estate asset offering a diversified mix of essential daily shopping, DIY, homeware, fashion, discount goods, leisure and entertainment. Janusz Botorek, Board Member and shareholder of Mitiska REIM’s Polish partner, Karuzela Holding, has joined the project as co-investor and local operating partner.
Momentum Leisure is a leading developer in the leisure and entertainment sector and plans to develop the newly acquired land plot with a theme and water park for children and families, with plans to open in 2026. This latest development will be Momentum Leisure's fourth theme park and second water park in Poland, with the aim of having 10 parks in Central and Eastern Europe operational by 2030.
Sylvie Geuten-Carpentier, Managing Partner of Mitiska REIM, comments: “We are delighted to collaborate with Momentum Leisure on this project and to extend the offering of Europa Centralna with a theme and water park for children and families. Europa Centralna is already the largest retail center in the city – our goal is to turn it into a go-to destination in the region through a compelling offering of convenience retail, leisure and entertainment.”
Wouter Dekkers, CEO of Momentum Leisure, said: “This collaboration with Mitiska REIM is a real win-win because it integrates shopping and leisure in a perfect location. We are looking forward to developing this site - and perhaps other locations in the future - together. Moreover, as part of our net-zero strategy, both the theme and water park will be designed to meet the sustainability requirements.”
Janusz Botorek, co-investor and local operating partner for the retail scheme, adds: “We see huge potential for Europa Centralna as a convenience real estate asset. Strategically located in Upper Silesia, one of the most important economic regions in Poland, Europa Centralna is ideally placed to capitalize on the 4 million consumers who live within a 30-minute drive of the center.”
About Mitiska REIM
Mitiska REIM is headquartered in Belgium and is Europe’s leading specialist investor in convenience real estate, comprising retail parks, multi-let light industrial, self storage and urban logistics projects. The company’s investment focus capitalizes on the converging trends across these sectors and the increasing demand for urban infill sites from a growing range of end-users that offer accessible locations, affordable buildings, flexible design and sustainable solutions.
Mitiska REIM’s investment model is partnership-driven, positioning itself as an active, value-adding investor, in collaboration with experienced local co-investment partners in respective geographies. Its approach is to unlock opportunities and drive superior value creation through the execution of development projects and value-add acquisitions with subsequent active asset management.
Mitiska REIM recognizes that achieving sustainable urban growth is an important issue and that ESG factors play a crucial role in being a responsible fund manager, and are a key driver in creating long-term value for all our stakeholders and for society by making our business and our managed assets ‘future-proof’. To read Mitiska REIM’s most recent ESG Report, please click this link.
Over the past 12 years, Mitiska REIM has raised 5 funds and built a portfolio of 92 properties representing +/- 1,200,000m² gross leasable area across Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Mitiska REIM is a licensed alternative investment fund manager (AIFM) supervised by the Belgian regulator FSMA (www.fsma.be).
www.mitiska-reim.com
About Momentum Leisure
Momentum Leisure collaborates with leading European brands in the field of leisure, entertainment and retail. The team has more than 200 years of combined experience in the theme park sector and combines a pioneering mentality with strong market and industry knowledge and excellent local networks to make the parks a reality. The company has world-class licenses for theme parks (including Tomorrowland, Nickelodeon, The Smurfs and Studio 100 / Plopsa). Momentum Leisure benefits as a first mover with healthy results in its growth markets, with excellent potential. To date, approximately €150 million has been invested in theme parks in the growth markets of Central Europe. All Momentum Leisure projects are 100% equity financed.
More information: https://momentumleisure.com
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