BBI Centar

BBI Centar (BBI Real Estate) is a shopping mall in the center of Sarajevo. It is one of the largest shopping malls in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stretching to 43,000 m² (460,000 sq ft). It was opened on April 6, 2009.[1] The BBI Centar was built on the site where Robna kuća Sarajka, popular state-owned department store, stood during the time Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of SFR Yugoslavia. Construction started in early 2006 and finished in early 2009.[2] The top floors are also home to the headquarters of Al Jazeera Balkans.

BBI Centar

BBI Centar in August 2013
Location	Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coordinates	43°51′29″N 18°24′59″E
Opening date	April 2009[1]
Architect	Sead Gološ
Total retail floor area	43,000 square metres (460,000 sq ft)[1]

BBI Center is a shopping gallery in Sarajevo, built in the city center with an investment worth more than 35 million EUR. It is designed as a 43,000 m² (460,000 sq ft) multifunctional building and offers sophisticated space for retail, restaurant, office space, warehouse, and underground garages.

469 parking spaces with video surveillance are located on three underground floors. Square in front of BBI Center (area about 5,500 m² (59,000 sq ft) is an ideal opportunity to rest in the open, because it is fully equipped with benches, flower pots, lighting, fountains). The square is a meeting place for the citizens of Sarajevo. Also many events organized by BBI Centre held on the Square such as an art performance, children's playrooms, workshops, concerts, graduations, sporting events, etc.

Net floor area specification

• Retail 12,200 m² (131,000 sq ft)
• Office 2,700 m² (29,000 sq ft)
• Restaurant 1,800 m² (19,000 sq ft)
• Storage 2,000 m² (22,000 sq ft)
• Parking 14,600 m² (157,000 sq ft)
• Services 9,700 m² (104,000 sq ft)

Concept of the Center:

• First-rate location – main pedestrian zone
• Main City Square in front of the building
• 7 shopping floors each with specific content
• 125 tenants (international brands)
• 20.000 – 30.000 visits per day
• 7 office floors

Robna kuća Sarajka (shown here in 2005) was built during the early 1970s and opened on 6 April 1975 as Sarajevo's showpiece state-owned department store before getting heavily damaged during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War, and eventually demolished in 2007 to make way for a new privately owned development. BBI Centar got built on the plot of land in city's center where RK Sarajka previously stood.

International Council of Shopping Centers awarded BBI Centar with ReStore Award. This distinction of European Shopping Centre Awards rewards both the developer and the local authority for a successful partnership that delivers a sustainable result for the local and regional community. European Shopping Centre Awards are the supreme awards in European retail property.

BBI Real Estate Ltd is the owner of BBI Centar. It has been founded in 2006 in Sarajevo with purpose to invest in real estate projects in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The biggest company investment today is a shopping gallery in Sarajevo “BBI Centre”, built in the city center, an investment worth more than 35 million EUR.

BBI Real Estate Ltd. is also currently investing in construction of several residential buildings. Two project are already finalized, residential building in the very old town of Sarajevo: Isevića sokak (near the brewery building), building in the street Ispod Budakovića and residential complex Sarajevo Panorama (www.sarajevopanorama.com).

BBI Real Estate has been awarded as best medium-sized enterprise in category of 2009 investment in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the ceremony of the top 100 fortune companies organised by business magazine “Poslovne novine” in 2010.

BBI Real Estate successful and sustainable business activity resulted in a constant revenue growth throughout the last 5 years, reaching more than 5 million Euros in 2011.