Seventy-eight thousand square meters. That’s the footprint of Atrium Targówek. Can you imagine? This shopping center isn’t just a place to buy things. It’s a piece of Warsaw’s history.
Atrium Targówek wasn’t always Atrium Targówek. It began life as Centrum Handlowe Steen&Strom. A Danish investment. The construction was surprisingly quick. Fifteen months. The project was a joint venture between Steen&Strom Holding A/S and Thorkild Kristensen Byggeholding A/S. Even the government got involved. A Danish investment fund chipped in. Think of the international collaboration needed for this massive project.
It all started in 1997. The building opened in 1998. But the story isn’t without controversy. The National Audit Office uncovered irregularities in the building permit. Apparently some things weren’t quite above board. The initial building was impressive. A Carrefour hypermarket dominated. Twenty thousand square meters. Eighty-nine smaller shops filled the rest. But they didn’t stop there.
In 2001 the center expanded significantly. Adding another section. A 12 screen Multikino cinema became a key attraction. Restaurants and cafes joined the mix. The original building now only represented a part of what we see today. Today over 130 shops and service points fill the space.
The construction involved acquiring land. Twenty-seven hectares. It came from a state-owned agricultural company. This land once farmed. Now a hub of commerce. The original cost? Over 30 million US dollars. It’s almost impossible to imagine the resources required.
The architectural design was the work of Kuryłowicz & Associates. A prominent Polish firm. They created a landmark for the Targówek district. It is arguably the largest multi-branch center in this area of Warsaw. A testament to Polish entrepreneurship and international collaboration. Now owned by G CITY Europe Atrium Targówek continues to evolve. It’s not just a shopping center. It’s a living part of Warsaw’s story. A story of ambition, expansion and a little bit of controversy.