European convenience real estate investor Mitiska REIM has opened its first retail park scheme in Bulgaria in partnership with Park Lane Developments and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Executed on behalf of the MEREP 3 fund, the project represents the initial venue in a planned countrywide expansion of the Estrea Park brand. Park Lane Developments operates as part of property group AG Capital.

The development is situated in Sofia’s Hadzhi Dimitar district, positioned in an established commercial zone next to an existing Kaufland supermarket and near residential quarters. The fully leased site provides 14,000 m2 of gross leasable area across 22 retail units, along with parking capacity for 300 vehicles. Built to target a BREEAM certification rating of “Excellent”, the property features a Lidl supermarket as its food anchor tenant.

“We are excited to open the first retail park under the Estrea Park brand. For us, this is a landmark moment and delivery of our plan to create convenient, well-maintained retail spaces at the heart of residential neighborhoods,” said Tanya Koseva-Boshova, Managing Partner at Park Lane Developments.

Retailers operating at the park include national and international chains such as Pepco, TEDi, Sinsay, ShockPrice, Intersport, DM Drogerie Markt, Zora and Komsed. In addition, the first floor contains a dedicated food court housing branches of McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC and Pizza Lab.

“We see significant opportunities in the Bulgarian retail park sector, as retailers look for new retail space to meet the increasing demand from shoppers. Estrea Park is a convenient, modern and sustainable retail park, which will become a new go-to shopping destination for Hadzhi Dimitar and the surrounding area,” said Tomas Cifra, Mitiska REIM’s Managing Director for Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria.

The joint venture partners plan to use the Sofia location to establish a benchmark for future convenience-led retail park developments across the country.