Giedrius Muliuolis, Head of Urban HUB: „The second phase of Urban HUB will contribute to a more convenient and faster shopping experience. We are opening our doors with almost 60% occupancy – eight new stores are opening simultaneously in the 3000 sqm space, and we expect more than 15 new businesses to be established throughout the building over the next year. To make the retail area easily accessible, we have invested over EUR 5 million in new exit ramps from the A6 and A1 roads“.
The first 5,700 sqm building of the second phase has opened its doors to the largest format of the shopping centre Iki, a Camelia pharmacy, a clothing shop, a store of the Eurokos beauty chain, Vet-1 animal products and pharmacy, a bakery, an exotic fruit store Mangų mangas, Ecodūmas. Additionally, in early 2025, a Sinsay store featuring accessories and home décor products is set to open.
Lina Muižienė, Executive Director of the shopping network Iki: „We are constantly striving to make shopping in our stores as convenient and enjoyable as possible, which is why we are opening new shops in strategically important locations. Biruliškės is a fast-growing residential area in Kaunas district, where more and more newcomers are settling in, and we see great potential in this location. With the opening of the largest format Iki store, we ensure that residents will have convenient access to a wide range of quality goods, enjoy attractive discounts, and have a pleasant shopping experience. In addition, the convenient location close to major roads and the well-developed infrastructure provide a quick and hassle-free shopping experience“.
Investing in infrastructure and easy accessibility
The newly opened building offers nearly 6,000 sqm of space, where more than ten additional businesses will join the currently operating stores. G. Muliuolis concludes: „ We want to fill the building with tenants that will enrich the entire Urban HUB campus and contribute to a convenient shopping experience for our clients. Therefore, we are talking with brands specialising in everyday family and children's goods, home interiors and design, and businesses offering customised services and products“.
This is why, he says, a lot of attention has been paid to infrastructure. Two new exit ramps have been built on the A6 and A1 sides of the highway. Also, in cooperation with Kaunas city and district municipalities, a bus stop will be installed at the Urban HUB early next year and added to the public transport routes to ensure more comfortable access for employees and clients.
The construction of the second phase of Urban HUB started earlier this year, while the work on the first building was completed in just 10 months, with YIT Lietuva as the general contractor. In total, the second phase of the project will offer around 28,000 sqm of business space to the market. Further retail and business city development is expected to start next year.
