Shopping centers, which have been emerging since the second half of the 1990s, have already saturated the Polish market. In contrast, retail parks have been leading in the supply of new space in recent years. In 2024, Poland ranked second in Europe in terms of the volume of new retail park supply. However, this does not change the fact that their total stock in Poland remains 3.5 times smaller than that of shopping centers.
What is the Difference Between a Retail Park and a Shopping Center?
Shopping centers and retail parks differ in layout, offer, and transport accessibility. Shopping centers provide a more diverse tenant mix and greater entertainment space, while retail parks focus on shopping convenience and easy access to units. The boundaries between the two formats are sometimes blurred—for instance, with the presence of food courts in retail parks or external entrances to units in shopping centers.
Retail Park vs. Shopping Center – What Do Consumers Prefer?
So, shopping center or retail park? What determines the choice, and do these formats really compete with each other? How are they perceived by customers, which facilities do they visit more often, and why?
Polish Consumer Shopping Habits
We asked these and other questions directly to the customers—those whose daily decisions can ultimately determine the success of a retail property.