Henley has completed the sale of Galeria Pestka, a 41,658 square metre shopping centre in Poznań, to OPAL CENTRES, a subsidiary of DromeStar Group. The transaction marks the end of a four-year repositioning effort that transformed the asset from a struggling retail centre into one performing above its pre-pandemic levels.
Performance turnaround
When Henley acquired the two-level centre in 2021, it faced the challenge of attracting shoppers in a market where many retail formats were losing ground to e-commerce. The investment firm pursued a strategy focused on practical improvements rather than cosmetic changes, securing 61 new lettings and lease renewals during its ownership period.
The tenant roster now includes Action, Jysk and Woolworth alongside established anchors Carrefour, Bricomarché and MediaMarkt. CCC, Pepco, Dealz, Rossmann and Sinsay round out a lineup built around daily-needs retail rather than fashion-focused shopping. The food court underwent a full refurbishment, now housing five operators including KFC, OLIMP and Sphinx.
Those changes translated into measurable results. Annual footfall rose from 4.8 million to 5.1 million visitors, surpassing 2019 levels before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted retail across Europe. Occupancy climbed above 95 per cent at closing.
What the deal signals
Poznań is Poland’s fifth-largest city, serving as a financial and industrial hub for the western part of the country. The Galeria Pestka transaction demonstrates that secondary-city retail assets can attract serious buyer interest when they deliver stable occupancy and footfall growth, even as headline investment volumes in Polish retail remain relatively subdued.
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Prime retail assets in Warsaw have become scarce and expensive, pushing some investors to explore opportunities elsewhere. A regional centre anchored by grocery and DIY tenants, rather than fashion retailers dependent on high footfall, tends to generate more predictable rental income. That kind of stability appeals to buyers seeking exit liquidity without relying on capital appreciation in gateway markets.
The deal was brokered by Avison Young on the commercial side, with GT Law handling legal matters for Henley Investment Management.
Henley’s portfolio direction
“We are pleased to complete the sale of Galeria Pestka, a well-located retail centre with a great tenant line-up,” said Tom Duff, Investment Director at Henley. “During our ownership, the tenant mix and food offer were brought up to date, while maintaining occupancy and growing footfall. With the business plan delivered in full, this was the right moment to sell and realise the returns for our investors.”
Henley has deployed roughly $3 billion across more than 100 investments globally. The firm continues to focus on large-scale urban regeneration projects and holds positions across living, office, industrial, logistics, retail and alternative sectors in Europe and the United States.