In the spring of 2010 (ed. note. only 2 years after the start of the financial crisis), the Sofia outlet center was opened. At first, hopes for its rapid development were high - many world brands opened stores there and sold clothes and shoes from old collections at a high discount rate. On the top floor there was a dining area with the first German sausages and original German beer. Over the years, however, the building has undergone changes and today there are many vacant areas, and there is no trace of the dining area on the top floor. What is the reason for this, given that the location is good (ed. note at the entrance to Sofia on "Tsarigradsko Shose" Blvd.), is difficult to say.
Nearly 15 years later (ed. note and 5 years after the pandemic caused by the coronavirus) a second attempt is being made to give life to the outlet industry in our country. An investment company specializing in retail parks has made "the first sod" of an ambitious project for the construction of not one outlet building, but an entire open-air town. It will be located again at one of the entrances to Sofia - "Botevgradsko Shose" Blvd. on an area of 8,500 sq m. The plans are to open its doors at the end of 2026 and feature 40 stores of leading international and Bulgarian lifestyle brands, as well as a parking lot with 1,800 parking spaces.
Next to the new project is the already completed XOPark Sofia - the largest retail park in the Balkans. Thus, the two zones are expected to form the first strong destination in our country, located on over 100,000 sq m. of retail space.
Why is such an outlet village being built in our country now? Fashion! In recent years, this has been among the fastest growing models in fashion retail in Central and Western Europe.
“Our goal is not just to build an outlet, but to create a new shopping destination that combines an authentic atmosphere and access to collections at attractive prices from leading brands,“ said the CEO of the investment company that will build the town, Stoyan Kolev.
Along with the brands already known in our country, other proven European companies from Italy, Spain and Austria will also debut. Proof of the interest in the new outlet, which is just starting to be built, is the fact that 70% of its retail space has already been leased, and negotiations for the remaining 30% are at an advanced stage.
Detailed statistics on average property prices in Bulgaria by city and neighborhood can be found at imot.bg