incorporated for a total of 19 new establishments. The project included the incorporation of important international brands and a global investment of 42 million euro for the company. La Maquinista is part of Unibail Rodamco Westfield ‘s (URW) portfolio since 2008.
One of the main focuses of La Maquinista’s renewal project was the fashion segment, which was expanded with the incorporation of international brands. Abercrombie & Fitch, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters and JD Sports will be present in this area, besides tech firm Dyson and L’Occitane, dedicated to natural high cosmetic.
Some of the most expected news were the arrival of Abercrombie & Fitch, which will, for the first time, integrate a Spanish shopping centre and open its first store in Catalonia, and Urban Outfitters, which chose La Maquinista to open its second establishment in Barcelona and in Spain, which will occupy an area of 782 sqm.
British trainers’ specialist, JD Sports, also elected La Maquinista to open an 820 sqm flagship store.
Japanes Uniqlo will open a 1.000 sqm store with which it will familiarise all visitors with its LifeWear. This will be the brand’s fourth store in Barcelona and the fifth in Spain.
Beyond fashion, Dyson, which had already set an itinerant showroom in the shopping centre last December, will now have its own 236 sqm store which will be the British brand’s first own personal store in Spain.
French natural high cosmetic brand L’Occitane will open a 68 sqm store also located in the ‘Zona Fashion’ area.
«After having been closed for months, we noticed the desire and anticipation clients had to enjoy once again the pleasure of being with family and friends. La Maquinista is the perfect destination for that, since it combines open spaces with cutting-edge brands offering the latest trends. We guarantee full safety for our clients during their shopping experience following strict preventive measures against Covid-19», stated Laetitia Ferracci, executive director of operations and public affairs at URW in Spain.
«The renewal project’s delivery represents an endorsement to our model and Unibail Rodamco Westerfield’s commitment for leading retail’s renewal, during such a complicated time as this is. Brands believe in the way we design the future of shopping and leisure destinations and have invested in this unprecedented project», stated Ferracci.
La Maquinista’s renewal and the entry of new retailers and brands will generate some 200 direct jobs, to be taken mainly by young people.
Laetitia Ferracci believes that it is particularly significant, within this contexa, thata «the company has made an effort to maintain its bet on the previously announced investment, convinced that our commitment with Barcelona is long-term».