ETC Swarzędz: Three Decades in Business and Still Rocking

A pioneer among shopping malls in the Wielkopolska region, ETC Swarzędz is celebrating 30 years of operation. The mall was launched in 1994, and 12 years later, thanks to Capital Park Group and Akron Group, it underwent a transition to become not only a shopping destination but also a community centre. Since reopening, ETC Swarzędz has been visited by more than 15 million customers.

ETC Swarzędz opened in 1994 as one of the first shopping malls in Wielkopolska. A milestone in its history was the upgrade: in 2016, thanks to the cooperation of Capital Park Group and Akron Group, ETC Swarzędz underwent a comprehensive redevelopment designed mainly to put its three separate halls under roof and merge them into one building. Ever since, the mall boasts a new façade, comfortable air-conditioned interiors, and a new food zone.

“When we decided to acquire ETC, we knew that it had its history and played an important role in the local community. With time, however, the mall ceased to meet the needs of the contemporary retail industry, which is why we decided to adapt it to recent market trends, and we succeeded. The major refurbishment project took 13 months to complete and helped to expand our retail and service offering and create space to host events for our customers. Today, ETC meets all the daily shopping needs of customers, with a tenant mix typical of convenience malls. Over 30 years of operation, it has gained a dominant position east of Poznań,” said Marcin Juszczyk, Managing Partner at Capital Park Group.

The mall with an extended fashion and service offering reopened on 7 October 2017. Today, ETC spans 20,886 sq. m of space, more than 90 percent leased. Throughout the years, the mall’s offer has included the best-known and most popular brands: Intermarché, Reserved, Top Secret, RTV Euro AGD, CCC, Deichmann, Home & You, KIK, Dealz, 4F, Sinsay, Empik, Pepco, Smyk, Rossmann, Martes Sport, Kids, Maxi Zoo, YES, Diverse, Big Star, as well as local businesses.

“For 30 years now, ETC Swarzędz has been developing and adapting to changing customer needs and market trends while upholding its environmental and social values. It is a prime example of a shopping mall which evolves but remains a vital part of the urban fabric over the years and contributes to its development. We are delighted to be a part of it,” said Stefan Ausch, Managing Partner at Akron Group.

ETC Swarzędz provides more than shopping convenience as it cares about social and environmental factors. The mall is certified BREEAM In-Use Excellent since April 2024. The mall’s ESG engagement includes saving electricity, heat and water consumption and segregating waste throughout the shopping areas and in the technical parts of the building. The car park hosts an insect hotel. ETC regularly launches educational environmental campaigns. It is committed to supporting local animal protection organisations and has adopted an Egyptian fruit bat at the Poznań Zoo.

ETC seeks to engage residents in its activities. Its initiatives include workshops, games for children and competitions with prizes, as well as workshops dedicated to adults. The shopping mall frequently participates in social campaigns, including in cooperation with the local government: ETC regularly organises blood donation campaigns, offers free mammograms, and holds fundraisers for animals. Customers and the local community often participate in events such as spring environmental workshops, as well as Children’s Day, back-to-school and Christmas festivities. Since reopening, ETC Swarzędz has been visited by more than 15 million customers, which is around 2.3 million visitors a year, testament to its unwavering popularity.

Strategically located on the thoroughfare between Poznań and Warsaw, the mall is easily accessible for residents of Swarzędz and surrounding towns. It offers multiple amenities to customers: a food zone, a children’s playground, relaxation areas, free parking for over 1,000 cars, bicycle racks and a self-service bicycle repair station. The mall is fully adapted to the needs of families with children and people with reduced mobility.