XXL Urban Hub at Waterfront: Shop, Play, and Dine - Welcome to Westfield Quarter
Westfield Quarter Debut: Shopping, Amusement, and Indulgence Await - Westfield Quarter Unveiling: Retail Therapy, Amusement, and Mischief Commence
Let's dive into the grand opening of the shopping center Westfield Hamburg-Waterfront Quarter happening soon! The official grand opening, featuring Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) and special guests, is scheduled for 2:30 PM. From 4:00 PM, the public is invited to enjoy retail therapy, cinema, or dining at one of the numerous restaurants on the vast premises.
Details about the Quarter showcase that more than half of the brands and concepts won't be seen in the heart of Hamburg. A third of them are entirely unknown to the Hanseatic city, featuring top-notch fashion stores like Breuninger, Stradivarius, Oysho, Karl Lagerfeld, and Luis Trenker, as well as the digital art center Port des Lumières and the Lego Experience World. URW predicts over 16 million visitors in the long run.
The original opening performance by British sensation Rita Ora, initially scheduled for the end of April in 2024, has been postponed to June 21st.
Large-scale construction challenges delayed the opening multiple times, causing rising expenses. URW recently acknowledged a total investment of 2.45 billion euros. Construction site conditions have been under criticism due to a tragic incident in October 2023, when a scaffold collapsed into an elevator shaft, claiming five lives.
The trade union IG Bau has expressed its disapproval, planning a protest on the side of the opening ceremony under the banner "Your Mall - Our Grave." The Left's co-faction leader in the Citizen's Assembly, David Stoop, condemned Hamburg's Senate for negligence.
Investigations are still ongoing regarding the incident. "They are being conducted on suspicion of negligent homicide, suspecting unidentified individuals," a prosecutor's office spokesperson revealed. "The cause of the collapse and possible accountability are under investigation."
The Westfield Waterfront Quarter is set to boast a whopping 419,000 square meters, distributed across 13 buildings. Key features include a cruise terminal, hotels, and offices. A total of 170 spaces for retail, dining, and recreation are planned, covering 94,000 square meters, with 95% already rented out.
Professor Thomas Krüger, an urban planning expert at HafenCity University Hamburg, remains optimistic about the venture. The Waterfront Quarter will blend shopping, immersive experiences, diverse culinary options, and luxurious accommodations, drawing various audiences. The investor aims to make the innovative—and presumably Europe's first of its kind—shopping destination a talking point.
Hamburg's Senate and urban development specialist Karen Pein (SPD) believes the city center will continue to thrive, thanks to its impressive historical architecture, distinctive characteristics, and iconic Alster. However, focus on improving the connectivity between shopping destinations at Binnenalster and the Elbe remains crucial.
The retail industry faces increased competition with the advent of the new quarter, with the managing director of the retail association North, Brigitte Nolte, expressing concerns. Yet, she acknowledges the quarter's potential as a powerful attraction for the region and beyond.
- Westfield
- Hamburg
- Waterfront Quarter
- Union Protest
- Peter Tschentscher
- Cruise Terminal
- Karl Lagerfeld
- Luis Trenker
- Safety Violations
- Rita Ora
- Catering
- Thomas Krüger
- The grand opening of the Westfield Hamburg-Waterfront Quarter, scheduled for 2:30 PM, will feature Mayor Peter Tschentscher, and from 4:00 PM, the public can shop, dine, or watch a movie at the numerous retail, dining, or recreation spaces.
- The Westfield Hamburg-Waterfront Quarter, set to open soon, will have a cruise terminal, hotels, offices, and a digital art center Port des Lumières, as well as top-notch fashion stores like Breuninger, Stradivarius, Oysho, Karl Lagerfeld, and Luis Trenker.
- IG Bau, a trade union, has planned a protest on the side of the Westfield Hamburg-Waterfront Quarter's opening ceremony, under the banner "Your Mall - Our Grave," expressing disapproval due to safety violations and the tragic incident where a scaffold collapsed, causing five deaths.
