EPP-owned Galeria Echo in Kielce has completed the modernisation of its food court. The new space called FOOD street, designed by the company’s architects in collaboration with a local graphic designer from Kielce, attracts attention with its original design. It refers to the vibrant atmosphere of the city and the history of the capital of the Świętokrzyskie region. Customers have gained 50% more seating, and large communal tables have been prepared for larger groups and families. Energy-efficient LED lighting and amenities such as parking spaces for prams have also been introduced.
“An important area of any shopping centre is the food court. The food court has not only a restaurant function, but also a social and integration function. That is why we decided to refresh the arrangement of this zone in Galeria Echo. We opted for a unique décor, based on elements of street design, in which we used unusual solutions. Traditional chairs and seats were replaced by, for example, car seats, a bus stop or concrete road barriers providing a completely new experience of our shopping centre. The changes made have been enthusiastically received by both our customers and tenants. It is worth seeing them with your own eyes,” says Jakub Ociepka, Asset Manager at EPP.
The food court in Galeria Echo in Kielce comprises almost 20 restaurants or cafés, serving a whole range of tastes, including John Burg, Smak na Tak, Subway, North Fish, Burger King, McDonald’s, lepione, cremova, Sevi Kebab and Asia Mama. The new food court emphasises this diversity, and the association with the energy of the city and street food is obvious – this is where you can sample a variety of dishes from around the world. Visitors to FOOD street can feel like they are on an exotic street, but in a Kielce way. The iconic SHL motorbike from 1964 made in Kielce, manholes signed with the city’s coat of arms, the Barkas minibus, the bus stop, car seats, traffic lights, lamp posts, roundabouts – the urban style and references to Kielce’s history are visible at every step. The street atmosphere is emphasised by the colourful, original works of local graphic artist Ola Banaś. She was inspired by archival photographs shared by the “Kielce in neon” group, which has been documenting changes in the city for years. The graphics, placed on walls and tables, depict city signs, neon signs and road signs.
Galeria Echo in Kielce, the largest shopping centre in the Świętokrzyskie region, is one of the key properties in EPP’s portfolio. The facility with a total leasable area of approximately 71,000 sqm houses nearly 230 shops of popular Polish and international brands, including TK Maxx, ZARA, Douglas, Super-Pharm, Rossmann, Bershka, CCC, H&M, Reserved, House, Cropp, Sports Direct, RTV Euro AGD, Carrefour and Dealz, as well as service outlets, a modern Helios cinema, a fitness studio and a bowling alley. The facility’s showpiece is also a multi-storey car park with 2,000 spaces. It features a system for directing vehicles to free spaces and a special parking space reminder function. The convenient location near the city centre, close to numerous housing estates and university campuses, guarantees the accessibility of the facility for customers on foot, by public transport, bicycle or by car.
