The Cloche d'Or shopping centre, which opened in May 2019 and was officially inaugurated in October 2019, is celebrating its fifth anniversary and has announced that it will welcome six million visitors in 2023, "an increase of 15%, as will turnover,” which have not been disclosed, Raphaël Bouchet, director of the shopping centre, said on 16 October 2024.
When it opened, the shopping centre was aiming to attract eleven million visitors. "But in the meantime, we've had a health crisis that we hadn't foreseen, which has had an impact on the shopping centre's growth. And our ambition is to reach nine million by 2028, so we're getting closer to our original target."
Occupancy rate: 98.4%
Bouchet believes that “the results are reassuring and very encouraging. The launch, adjustment and fine-tuning period is a special time for a shopping centre, as we adjust our strategy in relation to customers. The development of the Cloche d'Or district and our improved accessibility with the arrival of the tram in July are also driving our growth.”
And while the centre is currently only open until eight o'clock in the evening, "we're planning to extend the evening opening hours of our food corner. This project should be unveiled in early 2025", said Bouchet. Relations with retailers, which had become strained during the covid period, “have calmed down, and have been built on trust. We have put in place individual solutions for each of our retailers to ensure their business continues.”
Victorine unit still empty
The occupancy rate announced for 2024 is 98.4%. "When we opened, it was 95%. Over the last two years, we've been between 97% and 98%," stated Marie-Aude Hosten, head of retail Luxembourg at Nhood, the centre's management company. "On average, a shopping centre has a turnover of around 6%, and that's the case here. We still have some great projects planned for 2026, which will enable us to achieve a rate of almost 100%. And having a turnover rate is not necessarily a bad thing for a shopping centre, because you have to renew the offer to avoid customer fatigue", Hosten said.
However, some units remain empty, such as Victorine, which has been empty for around two years. "Following the bankruptcy of Victorine, this matter was dealt with from a legal point of view, and is now being finalised, enabling us to remarket this top location. In the first half of the year, we will be able to announce the arrival of a new retailer on this site, but we are taking the time to find the best partner for Cloche d'Or, and we have to respect the time limits imposed by the courts," said Hosten.
Four new retailers to come
"Today, Cloche d'Or's commercial strategy, after five years in operation, is to readjust the various sectors of activity to best meet the expectations of its customers and target audience. The next brands to be announced are Parfois and Orta, both ready-to-wear stores due to open in November. Then Game One, an arcade, and a new Mexican concept in the food hall called Fusion Cubes, for the first quarter of 2025". Still in the leisure sector, an "immersive" activity will open on 18 October, which is called Wizards' Challenge. A fun experience based around the world of magic, witchcraft and the medieval-fantasy universe, over 400m2, she stated.
Finally, "we're working on new parking facilities for soft mobility, as well as a project to renaturalise part of the shopping centre's façade. And the aim is to move towards the greenest possible energy consumption", added Bouchet. Both are two-year projects.
The Cloche d'Or shopping centre currently houses more than 115 retailers spread over three floors, with a total surface area of 75,000 m², including the Auchan Lifestore. There are also 26 restaurants.
Read the original French-language version of this news report