On August 9th, Albert will temporarily close in Varyáda due to relocation and will reopen in new premises in the second half of September.
The expansion of the Karlovy Vary shopping center Varyáda is successfully moving to the next stage. The new visualization, taken with the help of drones, reveals to visitors how far the new Varyáda will extend. Specifically, it offers a view of the planned Premiere Cinemas multiplex and the new main entrance.
The rear part of the new wing is completed in terms of construction work, and the Albert chain will soon be relocated there. “Regarding the front part, where the parking lot was located, the piles are already finished, and the installation of vertical concrete columns will begin soon. This will be followed by the installation of horizontal beams, then the roofing and cladding. The rough construction work is expected to be completed by this fall,” informs Martin Malý, Director of Marketing and Communications at EPG Group, the investor.
The public can get an idea of what the new Varyáda will look like thanks to a model made from Lego, with dimensions of one square meter. This model will be on display as part of the Varyáda Caravan Roadshow, which will travel around the region starting August 9th. The first stop will be in Chodov, with the final stop in Žlutice on September 22nd. The event aims to inform the public about the news and progress of the construction and to compensate for the closure of Albert. As mentioned, Albert will be relocating to the new premises and will be closed from August 9th to the second half of September.
“The roadshow will take place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It is an event organized by Varyáda in collaboration with Premiere Cinemas, which will offer freshly roasted popcorn and present the modern projectors that will be used in Varyáda. Albert will distribute fruit, while operators of bistros and refreshment stands will offer hot dogs, coffee, spa wafers, prosecco, or juices. Everything will be free for the public. Everyone who attends will have the chance to spin the wheel of fortune, and every participant will win something, such as gift vouchers,” reveals the marketing director, adding that the stops will also include a relaxation zone with games for children.
Additionally, while weekends will be dedicated to the roadshow, during the weekdays (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays), the Varyáda Patrol will be roaming around Karlovy Vary. A pair consisting of a girl and a boy will be distributing refreshments and gift vouchers worth 100 CZK to people in the city.
“The motto of this patrol is ‘Varyáda Spreads Joy.’ We have planned the roadshow stops to coincide with significant events in the given locations. For example, we will be in Cheb on August 17th and 18th during the Air Days. We will repeatedly visit Loket, where the Kryštof Kemp will be held on August 28th in the amphitheater. In Sokolov, we will arrive on August 16th for the Olympic concert, and we will be in Ostrov on September 14th for a performance by Pražský výběr. The penultimate stop in Horní Slavkov, scheduled for September 21st, is tied to the local town celebrations,” concludes Director Malý.
The expansion work on the shopping center began this January. The construction and overall transformation are divided into several stages and are expected to last 23 months, with completion before Christmas 2025. The total area of the center will increase by 9,000 to a final 27,000 square meters. The new Varyáda will offer more than one hundred retail units. The construction costs for EPG Group, which owns Varyáda, are estimated at 40 million euros.
The first to open will be the nearly completed rear wing. In addition to the relocated Albert, it will accommodate up to ten food units. These will include popular international fast-food chains with a drive-in concept as well as regional gastronomy operators using local ingredients. The dining zone will also feature a brand-new outdoor terrace with comfortable seating, where customers can enjoy refreshments in the fresh air with views of the Ohře River and the nearby park with a children’s playground. Everything is expected to be completed this November.