The 6,300 sq. m. shopping center PUPA, which opened its doors in the Pilaitė district in 2008, is celebrating its anniversary this year. Having already managed to become a center of attraction for residents of Pilaitė and surrounding districts in a decade, the shopping center is being renovated this year. 3 new tenants have opened their doors here: pizzeria “Express Pizza”, Asian food restaurant “Asia Express” and pet store “Pet24”.
Changes are dictated by the development of the district and the needs of visitors
For several years now, Pilaitė has remained among the fastest growing districts of Vilnius, with about 1,000 new residents settling there every year.
“As the number of residents of Pilaitė increases, the flow of visitors to the shopping center also increases, so the existing tenants see the need for expansion, modernize and renew the premises. We believe that the pizzeria and Asian food restaurant that recently opened in the shopping center will at least partially fill the shortage of cafes and restaurants, because their supply in the area is still not large,” says Giedrius Brūzgė, Director of the EIKA Asset Management Department. According to Mindaugas Grikštas, representative of the Express Pizza and Asia Express restaurant chains, the Pilaitė district is expanding rapidly, and the growing popularity of choosing to live in this area is visible. “Our customers naturally started writing to us and asking when we would open in Pilaitė, so we are very pleased that the activity of our customers themselves encouraged us to choose this area,” says Mindaugas Grikštas, representative of the Express Pizza and Asia Express restaurant chains. The pizzeria Express Pizza, which opened in July, and the restaurant Asia Express, which offers dishes from four Asian cuisines, are located on the first floor of the shopping center.
When choosing a shopping center, a convenient location is important
The “Pet24” chain of stores has also opened its fourth pet store in Vilnius in the PUPA shopping center. One of the most important criteria for tenants when choosing a shopping center is a convenient and easily accessible location for buyers. “Our customers often buy food for their pets in large packages, so it is very important that they do not have to carry heavy bags long distances. Customers of our store located in the PUPA shopping center can drive close to us, and there is always a free parking space. Also, people are extremely busy today and are constantly in a hurry, so it is very important that they can find the most necessary everyday goods and services in one place, which is exactly what this shopping center provides,” says Tadas Akelaitis, director of the “Pet24” chain of pet stores.
Existing tenants are expanding and renovating their premises
Continuing the modernization of its branches, Lietuvos Paštas renovated the rented premises in the shopping center and introduced a modern customer service center. A customer flow management system and modern parcel storage and delivery equipment have been installed here, which will help ensure prompt customer service. The premises rented in the shopping center were modernized and expanded by the cosmetics store Eurokos, and the VAGA bookstore moved to the renovated premises on the second floor. “We believe that the uniqueness of the shopping center is that visitors can purchase everyday goods and services here and find everything under one roof. We will continue to look for new tenants who would attract residents of not only Pilaitė, but also other districts of Vilnius to the shopping center,” says Giedrius Brūzgė, Director of the EIKA Asset Management Department.
In addition to the above, the shopping center is also home to such brands as: the sports club “Goodlife”, the children’s playroom “Minimukų namukai”, the amusement park “Rainbow”, the school goods store “Eripo” and others. In addition to the PUPA shopping center, the real estate development and construction group “Eika” has built the “Aušros” shopping center in Utena, “Ikiukės” in the Santariškės settlement, the “IKI” shopping center in Visoriai and the specialized “Berry” furniture store in Klaipėda.