In a move that could theoretically have profound consequences for the retail sector in downtown Prague, the city has set new rules for deciding who gets to lease retail space in its buildings. Until now, the only criteria in the tenders for leases has been price, but the city has decided it’s unhappy with the results. Countless shops downtown specialize in selling cheap trinkets to the endless waves of tourists, providing little reason for local residents to visit the areas. The new rules are to include experience as well as the purpose of the lease contract, according to the city’s councilors in charge of property Jan Chabr. “I’d be very pleased if we succeeded in filling these spaces with people who offer something the usual goods in the location,” he said. “Ideally there could be some different types of shops that will be interesting not just for tourists but mainly for residents of Prague. I’d like it if normal life began to return gradually to the center, which often looks like a tourist outdoor museum.”
