Opening of one of the biggest and most modern inner-city shopping centers in Germany (DE)

The shopping center has a GLA of 70,000 m²


Located in Essen's city center, the shopping center with a GLA of 70,000 m² was created in an overall construction time of three years for approximately €300 million. In the mall more than 200 shops, restaurants, cafés and service providers are located over three floors. Approximately 2,000 people will work in Limbecker Platz. The center provides around 2,000 parking spaces. Project partners for the Limbecker Platz are Union Investment Real Estate GmbH as the main investor, Arcandor AG as well as ECE, which developed and planned the shopping center and will be responsible for the long-term center management.

Particularly spectacular is the building facade, created by the famous architect Gunter Henn. Inspired by Marilyn Monroe's billowing dress in the cult movie 'The Seven Year Itch', the exterior walls of Limbecker Platz are equipped with 594 LED-operated light hemispheres. At night, these 'bubbles' draw attention to the building in a spectacular way.

For ECE's CEO, Alexander Otto, Limbecker Platz is a flagship project: "The now fully-completed Limbecker Platz will give new impetus to Essen and the overall metropolitan region – as new landmark in the heart of the European Capital of Culture."

All shops have already been leased out for months. Next to large-scale tenants such as Saturn, Karstadt, Karstadt sports, C&A, H&M and REWE, some concepts are celebrating their premiere in Germany: thus Germany's first Monki shop (H&M subsidiary) and the first Diesel Denimothek open there, among others. Moreover, Limbecker Platz offers nationally and internationally known brands as well as diverse gastronomy concepts to the approx. 1.7 million inhabitants in the catchment area. The first construction stage of Limbecker Platz opened on March 13, 2008.

Source: ECE