One year after its opening, how is this shopping center near Caen doing?

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A year ago, between September and December 2023, the first brands of the centre commercial Cityfs opened their doors in Ifs, near Caen (Calvados), on the other side of the Leclerc hypermarket, along the Falaise road (RN158): For all cats and dogs, Leclerc Cadeau, Optical Center, the Vital Forme gym and Torchio.

“Very happy with the first year”

In 2024, all of 15 buildings on 6 hectares was completed by the arrivals of Aubade, Saur, France pare-brise, the Ixina head office and two restaurants Musa Giorgia and Loumane.

We are very happy with this first year. Everyone is very satisfied, there are good crowds. For example, the gym works very well and the restaurants are full every day.

For the boss of Leclerc Bijoux, the creation of the brand was a plus. “It works well, it corresponds to our market studies and it works all year round in this beautiful setting,” continues Jean-François Gruau.

150 jobs in the area

The new Cityfs area employs around 150 people. “The area is attractive, it is starting to come alive and that should continue with the arrival of Action,” explains Bruno Herbert, CEO of the Torchio group, which has 9 Torchio stores in Normandy. The transfer of the former Torchio store located along the ring road near McDonald’s and Gifi to Ifs was a real accelerator for the brand.

It’s a very good year, we have developed the activity and made a very big increase in our turnover.

Bruno Herbert, PDG de Torchio

The MK1 Corporate company, which includes the Ixina kitchen brand, is currently continuing its installation in Ifs. “It’s going very well, we are in a very well positioned area in the urban area,” explains its president Merzouga Keddar.

“Surprised that it worked so well from the start”

On the side of restaurants also, we show a big smile. Opened last April, Muse Giorgia was the first to settle in the area. “We are very satisfied with these first six months. That it works so well from the start is a big surprise for us,” says David Secrétain, the director of the restaurant led by Xavier Legras, already at the head of the Villa Eugène, the Café Marcel and the Royal in Caen. With a capacity of 120 places, Musa Giorgia attracts both lunch and dinner. “We didn’t expect it to work so well in the evening. For example, there are big crowds on Friday and Saturday evenings.”

“It’s dynamic, there’s potential”

The arrival of the second restaurant, Loumane, in October 2024, is also beneficial to the shopping center. “It’s revitalizing the sector, that’s very good. He is also an independent with a great standing, there is a real chemistry between us,” continues David Secrétain, who however fears a lack of parking in the area with the upcoming opening of Action.

Open for only two months, the Loumane restaurant is satisfied with its launch. “ We’re happy, it’s dynamic, there is potential,” says Romane Moreau, who embarked on this adventure with her parents Sandra and Franck, who ran the Côte de Nacre hotel for 13 years.

We are complementary with Musa Giorgia, that multiplies the offer. The area is attractive and the architecture of the area is innovative. It’s a good start for us, better than expected for an opening.

With a reinforced team, Loumane will open Monday to Friday for lunch and dinner and Saturday evenings from January.

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