Successful transformation for Saint Genis 2

Published on January 28, 2020%

In September 2019, the Saint Genis 2 shopping centre unveiled its new look after 24 months of work. The ambition was to offer more than just a retail destination, a new generation of destination that meets consumers' expectations, where the shopping centre becomes a hyper-place for exchanges, encounters and experiences. One year later, the challenge has been met!

The challenge was great and the project was extensive: a bold architectural project with the complete renovation of the interior and exterior of the centre to make it an attractive, modern and welcoming community hub, an optimisation of the 9,000 m² of retail space to offer a new configuration that meets the wishes of the clientele and makes it possible to welcome new brands. A project that respects the commercial balance between the city and its outskirts, associating local operators in its development and favouring access to local brands to preserve the DNA and the roots that are the soul of Saint-Genis 2.

With a surface area of 38,500 m², the shopping centre has become a leading local shopping, culture, leisure and food destination in southern Lyon, with 90 shops and 10 restaurants, i.e. 30 new brands, including the 3rd largest Fnac in Greater Lyon, new innovative concepts (Thunderstone, Europe's first phygital shop) and many local independents (7 Lyon-based concepts out of 10 restaurants and more than 20 regional independents), and offering events throughout the year.

And the first results are in: the centre has beaten its historic record by well over 600,000 visitors in December 2019 (+10.3% between December 2018 and December 2019) and over 30,000 visitors on 23/12/2019 alone.

Thanks to its new Gourmet Greenhouse highlighting local gastronomy in particular, this increase peaked at +20% between 12pm and 2pm over this period. The centre thus posted a turnover of €35 million (including the hypermarket), +3.2% compared to December 2018, on a like-for-like basis.
It should be noted that since the opening of the extension, the centre's overall footfall has increased by 16%, with a peak increase of 40% at lunchtime thanks to the attractiveness of the Serre Gourmande.

“Our ambition was to offer a 360-degree shopping experience in a completely redesigned space that meets the new expectations of our visitors. We wanted to capitalise on the commercial potential of Saint-Genis 2 while retaining the “village” spirit and soul of the shopping centre to attract new customers in a dynamic economic area (catchment area of nearly 550,000 inhabitants and growing). These initial figures are very encouraging and the feedback from customers and partners is already very positive,” explains Benjamin Tardy, SCC Group, director of Saint Genis 2.