Hradec Králové has a new shopping center in the city center

Hradec Králové - The development company Amadeus Real officially opened the Atrium shopping center today in the center of Hradec Králové. It cost half a billion crowns. The building was erected next to the Tesco department store on the site of the former market. Other large shopping centers from different developers are also set to be built in the city, such as near the former bus station at Koruna and beside the football stadium in Malšovice.
    The Atrium offers 41 stores, of which 38 are currently occupied by retailers, according to representatives of Labartt Properties, which manages the rentals. The center also includes cafes and other refreshment options. The area of commercial space is 6,500 square meters. The center includes a parking lot for more than 200 cars. For a certain period, parking will be free. The Atrium shopping gallery is connected to the Tesco building by entrances on both floors. The center will open to the public on Thursday.
    According to representatives of the Hradec Králové city council, there is still interest among developers in establishing stores in the city, even despite the current economic crisis. "Chains such as Globus, Billa, and Decathlon are interested in establishing stores," said Mayor Otakar Divíšek. The Swedish furniture giant Ikea is also considering building a giant center near Hradec Králové.
    The developer HB Reavis appears to be the furthest along in preparing the construction of a new store in Hradec Králové, planning to build the Aupark center in the Koruna area. "We would like to have a zoning decision by spring 2010," said HB Reavis spokesperson Roman Karabelli recently to ČTK. The German ECE Projektmanagement plans to build a shopping center near the football stadium in Malšovice by 2013.
    There are currently approximately 1,000 stores in Hradec Králové. The shopping centers in the city include chains such as Tesco, Ahold, Interspar, Baumax, Obi, Makro, Hornbach, Gigasport, Asko, Electro World, and Kaufland.