Picture: Ingenieurbüro Dick | Markus Dick

The Leipzig-based ARCADIA Investment Group has leased a new rental space of 992 m² to the German pharmacy chain Rossmann in the “Otto Dix Passage” in Gera, with around 760 squaremeters retail space. Dirk Rossmann GmbH was already an existing tenant in ARCADIA’s project development and optimized itself with the new space in the entrance of the remodeled inner-city shopping center.

This means Rossmann will also operate two stores in Gera again. The high centrality index of 122.0 and the strong urbanity in the centre of Gera increase the attractivity for nationally and internationally successful retailers in the city centre. Rossmann closes a ten-year lease with ARCADIA Investment Group. The reopening of the pharmacy in the “Otto Dix Passage” is planned for May 30, 2022, after the interior work is completed.

Due to existing demand from prospective tenants in the grocery sector, ARCADIA’s planning and construction team decided to strategically restructure the two retail levels in order to create contiguous ground level retail spaces, with optimal ceiling loads and short delivery routes for local supply businesses. Taking these requirements into account now enables the provision of spaces from 600 up to 2,500 squaremeters with a flexible design for grocery stores and organic supermarkets.

“With the office tenant DMS approx. 9,000 squaremeters and the fitness chain FIT/ONE approx. 2,000 squaremeters, have been signed contracts with well-known tenants who can ensure a continuous basic turnover due to the high number of employees and customers. Currently, there is no local supplier or provider of organic food in the immediate city center. Therefore with the relocation of Rossmann have been created ideal conditions now.” says Enrico Näther, Head of Leasing Management, with a view to the future development of the property.

Already in April 2018, an investment company of ARCADIA Investment Group had acquired the former shopping centre and announced plans for an expansion and conversion. ARCADIA has been revitalising the building since early September 2020. The general contractor for the conversion of the “Otto Dix Passage” is Prehn Bauprojektmanagement GmbH from Lubmin. After its reopening, the newly designed shopping arcade will have around 16,500 square metres of usable space, meet modern building standards designed for sustainability, and have an attractive tenant mix with various types of use. The sustainability and quality of the property has already been confirmed by the German council of sustainable building with the “DGNB Gold pre-certificate”.

Dirk ROSSMANN GmbH

Dirk Rossmann GmbH was founded in 1972 in Germany and is grown to one of Europe’s largest pharmacy chains. Germany’s first pharmacy chain currently employs around 56,500 people with a sales volume of 11.1 billion euros. The ROSSMANN group has 4,361 stores across Europe, of which 2,231 are located in Germany (as of January 11, 2022). Furthermore, the company plans to open a total of 200 new stores in 2022.