This oldest indoor shopping center in Groningen has been attracting more and more visitors lately. On a typical Saturday there are about 12,000 visitors, and during the week about 65,000 visitors. In recent years, since ‘Covid’, the shopping center has had the wind in its sails and there has been a continuous increase in the number of visitors.
This trend is no reason for the owners of the retail properties to sit back and sit back satisfied. On the contrary: the shopping center has ambitious plans for a major renovation ‘upgrading’ which not only brings it completely up to date, but can also continue to serve an important function in the coming years.
“The shopping center is doing well and many shops are benefiting from this. We can measure visitor numbers very accurately via a customer counting system. This way we also know that there is still growth. We are very happy with that, because it means, among other things, that we can still compete very well with online-stores. Yet we want to ensure that we remain attractive in the future, because our shopping center dates from 1971 and is dated in quite a few respects,” says center manager Harold Lubberts. Part of his role is to maintain contacts with entrepreneurs, owners and external parties. He ensures that everything runs smoothly, is part of the revitalization working group and takes care of communication so that everyone is and remains well informed about the innovations of the center.
New impulses
Paddepoel shopping center is owned by a total of about forty owners, who together have 85 properties. Together they have made plans to give the center new impetus.
‘Although we are still attracting more visitors, we also realize that times are changing, and so are consumer wishes. The shopping center also wants to eventually add other functions than just shopping and must increasingly become an attractive residential area. The aspect of sustainability is also becoming increasingly important.
The plans were made by various parties in collaboration with real estate developer MWPO, which previously also developed the new Jumbo in Meerstad, Het Groot Handelhuis in the former V&D on the Grote Markt or Mercado in the Rode Weeshuisstraat.
The plans for Paddepoel are at an advanced stage and the final plan must be presented and approved before the summer.
New Jumbo on Pleiadenlaan
The renovation will take place in phases. First there will be a new Jumbo branch on Pleiadenlaan with a gym on the top floor. The demolition/new construction for this can be done approximately in the 3e quarter of this year. The area on that side, which is currently reminiscent of a bare factory site, will be redesigned into a pleasant residential area. If all goes well, construction on the Pleiadenlaan side could be completed around the summer of 2025.
In the next phases, which could last until 2030, there must be a new floor, a new roof, an upgrade of the public spaces, new entrances, a parking deck and around 400 homes will be added.
“These are fun, exciting times for our shopping center at the moment! We are working on finalizing the plans and getting them approved. But everyone is positive and sees the potential of our area.” Many stores have already been renovated recently and a number are still planned. This indicates that there is trust and that things are going well.
Specialty shops as an attraction
The shopping center also houses specialty shops that have developed into attractions, such as Slagerij Oosterhof, the Zuivelhoeve, the Grillhuis and Visspecialist Pasèl.
“Thanks to the beautiful range of shops, good accessibility, 1.5 hours of FREE parking, nice indoor shopping and the safety of shopping, we still have the wind in our sails. It is wonderful that everyone is now on the same page and together we want to ensure that this remains one of the largest and most attractive shopping centers in the Northern Netherlands in the future,” says an enthusiastic Harold Lubberts.
Photo: Impression of the renovated shopping center on the Pleiadenlaan side. (Illustration: Rijnbout Architects).
