Israelis find Kragujevac more efficient than Belgrade - Construction of Plaza Center in Visnjica to start day after issuance of permit

It took the Israeli company Plaza Centers about EUR 50 million and three years to open its first facility in Serbia. It was opened last week in Kragujevac, thus becoming the first modern shopping center in the heart of Sumadija.

About 1,200 workers were engaged in the construction of a Plaza center in Kragujevac, spanning 60,000 square meters, whereas between 500 and 700 people will get a job at that facility. At the moment, 94% of the retail space within the shopping center is leased.

Plaza Centers Serbia CEO Sagiv Meger said: "The new shopping center will change the look of the city and improve the life of people living in Sumadija." He reminded that the initial plan was to build two shopping malls at the same time, one in Belgrade and the other in Kragujevac, but the center of Sumadija was chosen to host the first facility of that company "due to the efficiency of local authorities."

- We've bought four locations in Serbia: two in Belgrade, one in Kragujevac and one in Krusevac. The city authorities of Kragujevac were quicker and responded to our queries and demands immediately. That is why we've implemented our first large investment in that city. It is not up to me to invite other companies to come here, but the fact that Plaza Centers has opened a facility in Kragujevac already recommends it for future investments. The best thing in our cooperation with the local self-government is that each our question is immediately answered. Even when they say "no," we are satisfied because we know what to expect. However, that is not the case with other cities in Serbia - said Meger.

When asked when we could expect the commencement of construction of a long-announced Plaza center in Visnjica, which should span 45,000 square meters and comprise a shopping center, a five-star hotel and an office tower, Meger told eKapija the following:

- Construction of a Plaza center in Belgrade will start the moment we get a permit. It we obtain it today, we will start the construction tomorrow. Unfortunately, the issuance of the permit is already taking longer than we expected. I believe we will be able to resume the construction of Visnjica Plaza within the next few months.

Does that mean that the Israeli group believes that Belgrade needs another shopping center and that it will attract enough customers in spite of the popularity of Usce and Delta City?

- Belgrade definitely needs more shopping centers. It lacks both shopping centers and quality shopping centers. By that I mean not only the quality of the building, marketing, but also the quality of the management and people running that center. Our shopping center is not only meant for shopping, but also for entertainment - it is a way of living. We've largely involved the local community and people from Kragujevac in this project, and I have no doubts that Belgrade lacks a Plaza center. The moment we built it, new standards will be set.

(the opening ceremony of Kragujevac-based Plaza)

- This is my message to Belgrade: when you have an efficient administration and give answers quickly and issue permits easily, you will have no problem to attract investment - said Meger.

Sagiv Meger told eKapija that the preparaton of a Feasibility Study for a Plaza center in Krusevac was underway, adding that its construction would also kick off in 2012.

Krusevac Plaza will be a retail park, which will gather all leading fashion and food brands in one place.

Greater visibility of Serbian brands

Retail stores in the first Plaza center in Serbia, which spans 65,000 square meters, occupy about 26,500 square meters. The shopping center will comprise about 110 outlets, an Idea supermarket, footwear and fashion stores of world-famous brands, a pharmacy, a restaurant, as well as a six-screen movie theater, facilities for entertainment, rest and recreation, etc. A parking lot on the ground floor of the facility is big enough for 650 cars.

In addition to brands New Yorker, Terranova, Tally Weihl, Sportina, Deichmann, Home Center, Benetton, Lacoste, Nike, Adidas, Asics, Aldo, Bata, Dexy co, Chicco, we've also noticed that much more attention is paid to Serbian brands than in other similar centers in Belgrade. Thus, customers will also find here the stores of Luna, Nicolas, Konstantin...

First Cineplexx in Kragujevac

Kragujevac is also the first city in Serbia after Belgrade to get Cineplexx, a movie theater equipped with the latest digital and 3D technology. Cineplexx in Serbia is a joint project of Austria's Cineplexx, Serbia's MCF MegaCom Film and Croatia's Kontinental Film as a minority partner.

Visitors of Plaza shopping center will also be able to watch events from the famous Metropolitan Opera live, as well as some of important sports matches.

By the way, the construction of this facility in the settlement Stara Radnicka Kolonija in Kragujevac commenced in 2008 and was supposed to be finished in 18 months, but the initially appointed contractor was unable to meet the deadline because of the global economic crisis and discontinued the work in spring 2009.

Upon the appointment of the next contractor - Tehnobeton from Varazdin, the work was resumed in autumn 2010. The facility of Plaza Centers in Kragujevac is built on a 2.5-hectare lot rented by that company for the period of 99 years at the price of nearly 20,000 euros per are.

Jelena Djelic