Although bars and cinemas are closed, children's fashion is the big hit.
The Lugner City shopping center in Vienna achieved significantly more sales in the first few weeks after the lockdown than in the comparable weeks of the previous year. In the first week from February 8th, the company was up by 400,000 euros, as owner Richard Lugner reported to the APA on Monday. This is despite the fact that the around 34 restaurants and the cinema in the “LuCi” are still open. Lugner speaks out clearly in favor of opening up the gastro.
“I think the youth and other people just want to be in contact with people they know. If that is not possible in the inn, it takes place at home – without a mask and without any distance,” said Lugner. According to Lugner, there could be “organized meetings” in bars and a meeting should not be restricted to two families. “Why should that be forbidden when five women or five men meet?” The opening of fitness centers and cinemas should be viewed differently again.
The cinema in Lugner City was open for a while last summer, “but that didn't work,” reported the prominent master builder. There were no blockbusters available. In general, cinemas have lost around 20 percent of their sales since 2009 because there is an increasing possibility of watching new films online.
His Lugner City benefits from the good location and transport links, said Lugner. The shopping center in Vienna's 15th district also benefits from the fact that there is currently no possibility for customers to use a toilet on Vienna's Mariahilfer Straße. The frequency is better in Lugner City than in other Viennese shopping centers.
In the second week after reopening, the “LuCi” has, according to its owner, an additional 100,000 euros more than in the corresponding week of the previous year. “Last week it was around 20,000 euros,” said Lugner. “Because of the nice weather, I'm afraid people will go to the mall less now.”
The MediaMarkt in Lugner City posted “sensational sales increases” in the first week, and people were queuing in front of the C&A branch “because of the children's fashion”. Obviously, the children grew bigger in the six weeks of lockdown.
