Sportisimo is taking 14,500 sqm of storage and office space at Westgate Park Rudna, located next to exit 5 on the D5 motorway on the western edge of Prague. It’s part of a rapid expansion strategy the sports retailer is undertaking in Central and Eastern Europe. Westgate Park Rudna was bought by Europa Capital Partners on behalf of Europa Fund IV and is managed locally by The Charnwood Company.
By taking space at Westgate, Sportisimo gains greater access to the main traffic artery linking Prague with Plzen and Germany. Prior to Sportisimo, the building was occupied by the supermarket chain Billa, but a refurbishment program was begun upon its departure. This included repairs to the floor, maintenance work on the roads surrounding the building and the installation of a new façade. “It’s institutional product,” says The Charnwood Company’s managing director David Bouck. “It has a 5-ton floor and a 10-meter ceiling,” he added. “It’s a simple building, with no quirks, in a top location.” What really attracted Europa Capital to the asset, though, was the fact it can build another 55,000 sqm of new warehouse space on land that’s already secured planning.
“We were able to take a very pro-active approach in listening and responding to Sportisimo so as to ensure that both the storage and office interiors are refurbished to their specific requirements,” said Bouck. “Our strategy for the project is to offer logistic occupiers high quality space with expansion options at the park in the important Prague West market.”
