Thursday, 29 October 2026
Romania’s retail property sector continues to evolve as developers respond to changing consumer expectations, residential expansion and growing demand for convenient shopping destinations. This transformation is reflected in the five nominations for Best Retail Development & Developer of the Year at the CIJ Awards Romania 2026, where projects ranging from major shopping centre extensions to neighbourhood retail parks demonstrate different approaches to commercial development.
This year’s nominees are Arena Mall Bacău by Arena City Center, Aria Shopping Center by Yellow Tree Group, Family Market Tomești by IULIUS, M Park Adjud by Square 7, part of M Core, and M Park Titan, also developed by Square 7. Together, the projects illustrate how retail investment is extending beyond traditional shopping centres, with greater attention to accessibility, tenant diversity, leisure facilities and integration into surrounding communities.
Arena Mall Bacău, developed by Arena City Center, represents one of the more substantial expansion projects among this year’s nominations. The development extends the existing shopping centre with approximately 15,000 sqm of additional retail space, increasing its commercial capacity while expanding dining, entertainment and leisure facilities. The extension approximately doubles the centre’s built footprint and increases parking capacity by around 25%, strengthening its position as a regional shopping destination serving Bacău and surrounding communities.
The project also places considerable emphasis on architectural design and its relationship with the surrounding environment. Its proximity to the Bacău reservoir has influenced the introduction of landscaped public areas, outdoor terraces, restaurants and relaxation spaces. Internally, extensive glazing, a central atrium and vegetation are intended to create a more open shopping environment. The development demonstrates how established retail centres can adapt their existing infrastructure to accommodate changing expectations for shopping, entertainment and social interaction.
In western Bucharest, Aria Shopping Center by Yellow Tree Group introduces a different approach through a specialised retail destination dedicated to home furnishings, interiors and living products. Located on Valea Cascadelor in Sector 6, the approximately 6,000 sqm development has been designed to bring complementary showroom operators together within a single commercial environment. Rather than competing directly with conventional shopping centres, the project concentrates on a particular retail segment and its associated customer requirements.
The development has attracted leasing commitments for more than half its gross leasable area ahead of opening, with the ground floor almost fully contracted at the time of nomination. Ceramall, a distributor of tiles, flooring and ceramics, has been secured as an anchor tenant. The project is also positioned within an area experiencing residential growth and urban regeneration, including the development of Parcul Liniei. Its commercial prospects will depend partly on how effectively the specialised tenant mix attracts customers seeking home improvement and interior design products.
Family Market Tomești by IULIUS reflects the continued expansion of neighbourhood retail infrastructure around Romania’s larger metropolitan areas. Located in the Iași metropolitan region, the €28 million development is planned to provide more than 13,000 sqm of leasable space, alongside over 10,000 sqm of green areas, leisure facilities and approximately 450 parking spaces. The project also incorporates pedestrian connections and improvements to local access infrastructure, extending its role beyond conventional retail provision.
The tenant mix has been designed around everyday shopping and services, with Kaufland providing the principal grocery anchor. Other planned occupiers include JYSK, Pepco, Action, Sinsay, dm, Agroland, Stay Fit Gym and KFC, alongside local businesses. Family Market Tomești builds on the developer’s earlier projects in Miroslava and Bucium, which together generated revenues exceeding RON 20 million in 2025, approximately 7% above the previous year. With completion targeted for the final quarter of 2026, the new development represents a further test of the neighbourhood retail concept in a growing suburban market.
M Park Adjud, developed by Square 7, part of M Core, demonstrates the opportunities available for modern retail investment in Romania’s smaller cities. Located on Republicii Boulevard, with connections to the DN2/E85 road network, the project is designed to improve access to established retail brands for residents of Adjud and neighbouring communities. Its first phase comprises approximately 2,500 sqm and includes Deichmann, Dr. Max, Pepco, Sinsay, TEDi and XPRESS, complementing an existing Lidl supermarket nearby.
The development was scheduled to open on 29 October 2026, with a second phase planned to introduce more than 6,000 sqm of additional retail accommodation and another food anchor. Parking facilities and electric vehicle charging stations contribute to the project’s convenience-oriented format. M Park Adjud illustrates a development strategy focused on locations where modern retail provision remains relatively limited, allowing developers to introduce a broader commercial offer without the scale or complexity of a traditional regional shopping centre.
The fifth nomination, M Park Titan by Square 7, part of M Core, applies the retail park model within Bucharest’s established residential environment. The development combines international retail brands, food operators and everyday services in a location intended to serve the surrounding urban population. Its occupiers include JYSK, Pepco, Sinsay, Deichmann, CCC, Flanco, dm, TEDi, Dr. Max, BEFIT, Animax, KFC and Mesopotamia, creating a diversified commercial offer across several consumer categories.
M Park Titan also incorporates electric vehicle charging facilities and parcel collection infrastructure, reflecting the growing importance of convenience and services within physical retail destinations. Unlike developments targeting regional visitors or specialised shopping requirements, the project concentrates on frequent local demand. Its nomination highlights the continued relevance of retail parks in densely populated urban districts, where accessibility, practical layouts and complementary occupiers can support regular customer visits.
Although the five nominations differ considerably in size, location and commercial positioning, they reflect several important developments within Romania’s retail property market. Established shopping centres are investing in expansion and leisure facilities, specialised developments are targeting defined consumer segments, and neighbourhood retail schemes are extending modern shopping infrastructure into suburban communities and smaller regional markets. The increasing inclusion of landscaped areas, pedestrian access and additional services also demonstrates how retail developments are becoming more closely connected with their surrounding urban environments.
For the CIJ Awards Romania 2026 jury, the category presents an opportunity to assess different approaches to retail development rather than compare projects solely on their physical size or investment value. Commercial relevance, development execution, tenant composition, accessibility, architectural quality and contribution to local communities will be important considerations when evaluating the nominations. The distinction between completed developments and projects approaching completion will also require attention to the evidence available for each submission.
The nominations demonstrate that Romania’s retail development market is no longer defined exclusively by the construction of large shopping centres. Investment is increasingly directed towards formats that respond to specific local requirements, whether through the redevelopment of established destinations, specialised commercial concepts or accessible neighbourhood facilities. The Best Retail Development & Developer of the Year category recognises this diversity and the role developers continue to play in shaping Romania’s commercial property landscape.
The winner will be determined through the CIJ Awards Romania 2026 judging process, combining the professional jury’s assessment, representing 61% of the final result, with online voting accounting for the remaining 39%. The successful nominee will also qualify for the HOF Awards 2027, where leading real estate projects and companies from across the region will compete for further recognition.
