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According to Nikoliers, 40% of retail space available for lease in the capital's Moscow City business center is occupied by catering establishments. This situation applies to the first quarter of 2022.
Research conducted by Nikoliers employees confirmed that since July last year, the volume of free space for trade in the MIBC has been decreasing (the changes did not affect Neva Towers and Afimall City ). At the end of the first quarter of this year, this figure reached 12%. The relevant data were made public by TASS representatives.
The experts involved in the study noted: "The first quarter of 2022 was characterized by a reduced vacancy rate, which spread to many areas of trade in the MIBC. It exceeded the July figures of last year, as it reached 12%. The highest vacancy rate was observed in 2022 at the Mercury Tower , where four premises were closed. Today, Mercury Tower has mostly unoccupied areas (at least 33%). They are present in small quantities at Evolution and Federation (19% each)."
Representatives of the Nikoliers company managed to find out how the situation developed in the first quarter of 2022. During this period, among those who rented retail space from the MIBC, the following picture was observed:
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the share of enterprises related to public catering is 40%;
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the service sector, represented by travel agencies, tailor shops, dry cleaners, etc. – 13%;
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enterprises related to beauty and health – 11%.
About 6% of the premises were affected by rotation or were used by new tenants. Up to 7% of previously empty buildings also acquired tenants.
According to Nikoliers forecasts, traffic in the shopping galleries of the Moscow International Business Center will continue to recover. This will be facilitated by the lifting of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the return of some employees to the traditional work format. This opinion was voiced by V. Lezhneva, who holds the position of Director of the Research Department at Nikoliers.
The specialist also specified: "After retailers from other countries suspended their activities, there were no major changes in the functioning of the retail chains belonging to Moscow City. This situation is due to the fact that the overwhelming majority of facilities included in Afimall City are renting. The impact of sanctions forced the closure of the Starbucks coffee shop located in the Tower on the Embankment. Other foreign operators continue to operate as before."
Nikoliers representatives analyzed at least 300 commercial premises located in business centers belonging to the Moscow International Business Center. More than half of the business center's infrastructure intended for trade was allocated to three objects. Among the latter are IQ-Kvartal, Federation, and Gorod Stolits (excluding the territory allocated for Afimall City).
Since 1994, Nikoliers, a consulting company, has represented the international Colliers brand. Since the beginning of March 2022, it has been operating independently in the Russian Federation.
