NORMAL opens first Romania stores at NEPI Rockcastle malls

Business Forum
Danish retailer NORMAL has entered Romania, opening its first two stores at NEPI Rockcastle shopping centres in Bucharest and Timișoara. The openings mark Romania as NORMAL's 14th European market. The store at Mega Mall in Bucharest covers 311 sqm GLA, while the location at Shopping City Timișoara spans 445 sqm GLA, with both sites launching in early October 2026.

NORMAL offers a range of more than 3,500 everyday products, covering personal care, cosmetics, household goods, food and beverages. More than 100 new items are introduced each week, and the stores are laid out as a maze-like shopping route, a format used across the brand's other European locations.

"We are always looking for new European brands to enhance tenant mix and consumer experience. We are delighted to welcome NORMAL in NEPI Rockcastle's tenants mix portfolio and look forward to supporting their growth across Central and Eastern Europe through our 60 assets located in 8 countries," said Ramona Marusac, Regional Head of Leasing at NEPI Rockcastle.

Mega Mall in Bucharest has over 200 stores across 75,900 sqm of GLA and draws from a catchment of nearly one million people within a 30-minute drive. Shopping City Timișoara is a 57,000 sqm GLA mall in the regional capital of Timiș County in western Romania, close to the borders with Hungary and Serbia, serving a catchment area of over 350,000 people within a 30-minute drive.

NORMAL was founded in Denmark in 2013 and now operates more than 1,000 stores across Europe. NEPI Rockcastle holds a portfolio valued at €8.4 billion, comprising 60 properties across eight countries, with a development pipeline representing over €840 million in total investments.

RECOMMENDED
Romanias logistics market records 64% demand surge on nine months
Real estate

Romania's logistics market records 64% demand surge on nine months

Romania's industrial and logistics sector recorded strong growth in the first three quarters of 2025, driven by activity in the Bucharest area. Total leasing demand reached almost 640,000 sqm between January and September, up 64% compared to the same period last year, according to Colliers data.

Property leasing in Romania keeps steady in Q3, says CBRE
Real estate

Property leasing in Romania keeps steady in Q3, says CBRE

CBRE reports that office demand in Bucharest remained stable in Q3 2025, with total leasing activity reaching 61,500 sqm, consistent with the previous quarter but down from last year's quarterly average and the first half of this year. Despite the constant activity levels, market dynamics shifted this quarter as net demand increased by 44% compared to Q2 2025, totalling 41,700 sqm.

NEPI Rockcastle names COO Marek Noetzel as new CEO
Real estate

NEPI Rockcastle names COO Marek Noetzel as new CEO

Nepi Rockcastle has appointed Marek Noetzel as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2026. Noetzel, who has served as the company's COO since June 2022, will succeed current CEO Rüdiger Dany.

The future of retail is about belonging, not just buying
Real estate

The future of retail is about belonging, not just buying

Once considered a purely transactional asset class, retail in CEE is rapidly evolving into a platform for experience, community, and brand identity. This shift was at the centre of the discussion at SEE Property Forum 2025, where industry leaders explored how shopping centres are adapting to changing consumer expectations, ESG requirements, and the growing demand for meaningful, multi-use spaces. 

FDI in Romanian real estate triples in past decade
Real estate

FDI in Romanian real estate triples in past decade

Foreign direct investments (FDI) in Romania's real estate and construction sector more than tripled between 2014 and 2024, increasing by €15.1 billion to reach €21.6 billion by the end of last year. The sector's share of total FDI stock rose from 10.6% to 17.3%, according to National Bank of Romania (BNR) data analyzed by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

RECOMMENDED FROM THE HOME PAGE
Bucharest yields remain well above Western European levels
Real estate

Bucharest yields remain well above Western European levels

Bucharest is consolidating its position within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) real estate market, combining rental growth across major asset classes with investment yields that remain well above Western European levels, according to the DNA of Real Estate Europe Q2 2026 report published by Cushman & Wakefield. Across Europe in Q2 2026, prime office rents rose 4.5% year-on-year, retail rents increased 3.0%, and logistics rents grew 2.4%, while investors remained selective as yield movements pointed to a more balanced market following the repricing cycle of recent years.

Energy

Electrica secures grid permits for 700 MWh of storage

Energy company Electrica informs investors and the capital market that it has obtained the technical grid connection permits (ATR) for 17 new battery energy storage projects (BESS), with a total capacity of approximately 700 MWh.

Energy

Romanian grid operator to support peak power consumption during heatwave

Romania's national electricity transmission network operator, Transelectrica, has halted scheduled maintenance shutdowns to ensure the grid operates at maximum capacity during an ongoing extreme heatwave. The preventive measures aim to mitigate operational risks associated with severe weather conditions.