The trading format will see reconfiguration soon

All capital's shopping centers will open by the end of the month, but the format of trade will be restructured," said Julia Tryaskina, Partner of UNK Group, to Interfax. "The opening of a shopping center is, above all, a business decision. All shopping centers will, of course, open by the end of the month, because the buyer has a need. But the trading format will be reconfigured. Even before the pandemic, there was a wave of reconstruction of outmoded shopping centers with the request to increase and expand multipurpose areas, allowing them to swiftly change their purpose in response to demand," said Ms. Tryaskina. She added that the ratio of shopping and entertainment functions will change: possibly to a 50/50 split. "We will see an increase in public areas for neighborhood events, children's centers, libraries, educational and recreational programs, etc. Stores will still be a pleasant component, but not the main attraction of the shopping center," the expert explained. At the same time, she anticipates significant changes in space to meet Rospotrebnadzor's requirements. As sales technology evolves, retailers who remain in shopping centers will need to expand their spaces: there will be more distances in the layout of equipment, more seating, more fitting rooms, and more waiting space for customers. The stores shifting to online sales will curtail their presence in shopping centers.