The Israeli company BIG CEE, which already manages the largest shopping center in Podgorica (Big Fashion — formerly Delta City, City Mall and The Capital Plaza), is entering the Nikšić market. The recent tender for the sale of 42,201 square meters of land received a single bid — from the Israeli company. The transaction was worth 1.47 million euros.
The Chairman of the Nikšić Municipal Assembly, Nemanja Vuković, emphasized that the project will provide new jobs and create new opportunities for residents. He noted, that this step is an important milestone for the development of Nikšić and the attraction of new investors.
Location and development of the “Sunny City” project
The acquired plot of land is part of the large-scale “Sunny City” (Sunčani grad) project — a new residential and commercial district on the outskirts of Nikšić, near the former steel plant. This area, owned by Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG), will be developed with retail, residential and business facilities as part of a joint initiative by EPCG and the municipality. The first step in implementing the project was an architectural competition to create a development concept. After the adoption of the new Spatial and Urban Plan (PUP), the municipality received legal grounds to attract investors, including Big Fashion and the German retail giant Lidl, which previously acquired land for its supermarket.
Big Fashion shopping center in Nikšić
It is planned that the new shopping center will become a key facility of “Sunny City” and will be similar to the one already implemented in Podgorica. It is expected that a residential complex, similar to the capital’s City Kvart, will begin to develop around it, which once transformed a former industrial zone into a prestigious area for living and business. According to the project, the future complex will include from 500 to 1,000 residential units, playgrounds, sports areas, a swimming pool, schools and kindergartens. All this will make it an independent neighborhood of Nikšić with comfortable infrastructure for residents.
Lidl in Nikšić
The German chain Lidl is actively expanding its presence in Montenegro. The first store is planned to open in the settlement of Mahala, the municipality of Zeta (near the country’s capital). Nikšić is one of the cities where the retailer plans to open its new supermarket. The company has already acquired a plot of land in this city, and its location suggests that the new Lidl will become a key part of future urban development, especially within the “Sunny City” project.
Future investments and prospects
In addition to Big Fashion and Lidl, the municipal authorities are negotiating with other potential investors. It is planned that the project will attract companies from the fields of education, healthcare and public administration. EPCG is considering offering part of the plots for the construction of public institutions, such as schools and medical centers. The Chairman of the EPCG Board of Directors, Mituin Đukanović, noted that the development of “Sunny City” will open a new chapter in the history of Nikšić, accelerate its modernization and create attractive conditions for living and working. Interestingly, a similar model was previously successfully implemented in Podgorica, where with the opening of the Big Fashion, City Mall and The Capital Plaza shopping centers in the area of the former industrial zone, an active influx of investors and the development of a modern urban environment began. By analogy with this experience, the authorities of Nikšić are counting on growing interest in “Sunny City” among developers, which will lead to further improvement of the area, the construction of new roads and better infrastructure. The participation of the Israeli company BIG CEE in this project indicates high investment potential, which may attract new international retailers and brands, increasing the city’s economic activity. Thus, the construction of a shopping center in Nikšić is not only the development of retail, but also a strategic step toward creating a new modern urban space capable of attracting investors, improving the regional economy and raising the quality of life for its residents. Photo: Srđan Tadić, Aleksandar Marsenić, Bojan Vlahović/EPCG