The abandoned outlet centre in Voderady. (source: SME)
This autumn marks ten years since the opening of the first Slovak outlet centre, One Fashion Outlet near the village of Voderady in western Slovakia. It launched in grand style 10 years ago, on October 30, 2013. But within five years it had closed its gates.
The centre promised a range of global brands at significant discounts. On its first day, it attracted more than 12,500 people.
Housed in a modern complex near the main D1 highway, just 45 kilometres from Bratislava, there were about 50 shops selling fashion and sporting goods, with plans to have all 70 shops occupied within six months.
The outlet centre was supposed to attract 1.5-2 million visitors per year, including from Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic as well as Slovakia.
But the centre, which aspired to compete with the Parndorf retail village in nearby Austria, which is popular among Slovak shoppers, quietly closed in 2018, after failing to attract enough shoppers. Compared to Parndorf, the range of brands and goods on offer was considerably slimmer.
Its premises have been empty ever since. After several unsuccessful auctions, the complex was sold in 2020. The price was not disclosed. Today its owner is Voderady Property. Wooden pallets now block the access roads to the premises, and weeds are growing through the paving in the empty parking lot, which was built to hold 1,300 cars.
