The number of shopping centers in Germany is unchanged compared to the previous year. According to the current EHI Shopping Center Report 2025, however, there is a lot of dynamics behind the stable number: Numerous centers are revitalized in order to focus more on people’s reality of life.
“Revitalizations by shopping centers ensure that they remain relevant for people’s living environment,” explains Lena Knopf, EHI expert and author of the report. “In this respect, there is significantly more movement in the market than could be assumed when looking at the number of centers.”
According to the EHI experts, the trend is clear: shopping alone is no longer enough. Shopping centers are increasingly being converted into leisure destinations. In 2024, eleven revitalizations were completed, 38 others are currently being implemented. These range from complete repositioning – such as in Loop5 in Weiterstadt with a water playground, climbing park and a new food court – until the redesign of individual areas, for example in the Huma St. Augustin.
New mixing of usage is also increasing: In some centers such as the Boulevard Berlin or the Rheinpark Center Neuss, sales area is reduced in favor of offices or medical practices. Energy is also modernized. Gastronomy plays a central role in many projects. In the Lago in Constance, a rootop bar was created on the fifth floor: the “Glorious Garden”.
Around 12% of the 26,513 rental relationships in German shopping centers are now eliminated on gastronomic offers. In addition to classic restaurants, leisure and event areas are becoming increasingly common: the Rhein-Neckar-Zentrum has recently been home to a trampoline hall, outdoor catering and an indoor skydiving facility.
A large part of the centers are located in an urban environment: 47% are located in city centers, 38% in district layers and only 15% on the green meadow. The new developments of the past ten years confirm this trend: two thirds of the 48 newly opened centers have been located in city centers.
The top tenants in the centers remain largely stable: Deichmann (288 branches), Ernsting’s Family (257) and DM drugstore (233) lead the ranking. However, some companies have reduced their presence – according to O2 and Vodafone. Others like Douglas or Depot fell out of the top 20. There are new players with an urge to expand: Tedi (+ 14 branches) and Woolworth (+ 27) are massively expanding their presence.
