Initial problems with the lease
The end of 2013 was a breakthrough for the Wroclaw Main Station. Railway authorities finally managed to find buyers for premises that were empty since the big renovation. Let’s recall that in June 2012 a few days before European Championships in football organized in Poland the main station in Wroclaw underwent a modernization worth 324 million PLN. The historic building regained its luster. Newcomers who arrived at Euro 2012 envied us the station. Building, although beautiful, stayed empty. This lasted well over a year. After the renovation the well known brands did not return to the station. According to the initial plans the shopping center was built on the first floor. Railway authority hired a company to find investors. The scheme ended up with disaster.
Break-through at the station
Recently finally something moved. Buyers who were interested in premises before often ran away from the administrative machinery of station which does not operate too well. For replies for their questions they waited so long that either abandoned the idea of the opening of the new premises, or simply invested elsewhere.
Today at the station a lot has changed in this regard. The PKP SA created a separate department that deals with the investors. Since the beginning of the design arrangement of the premises they were accompanied by a technical coordinator, which facilitates communication between the conservator and tenants. For the effects we have to wait long. - Currently on the ground floor of the main station Wroclaw leased up to 74 percent of the commercial space - Bartłomiej Sarna, a spokesman for PKP SA in Wroclaw is contented. - We have created a dedicated team to raise trading partners, and also established cooperation with tenants network in the whole country - says the spokesman.
Until June 2014, only three premises on the ground floor of the main building will not have a tenant. Negotiations are currently underway with two investors who want to arrange the train floor. A two-floored premises can be built there - underlines Bartłomiej Sarna.
PKP focuses on famous brands
At the main station EMPiK and Ruch will open their kiosks. There will be plenty of cafés, among others, Coffee Heaven. In the second quarter of this year, another café in Wroclaw will appear – a Starbucks. Its premises at the station have: KFC, bakery-patisserie Back-Factory, catering service Bocadillo, McDonald, Currency Interchange, Lower Silesia Tourist Information.
Still the floor of the station remains a big problem for the authorities. In December last year Wroclaw Fair of Good Books was organized there. Since that time, virtually nothing is happening there.
Miłosz Turowski
