Fashion giant pulls out of Metalli

The clothing chain, which belongs to the Spanish group Inditex, has terminated the lease, and negotiations are already underway for the shop space.

In the summer of 2013, fashion lovers were delighted when Zara opened its first branch in Central Switzerland: in the Metalli in Zug. After ten years, however, the fashion shop will now close, as the Zuger Zeitung newspaper has learned from a reliable source.

On request, the owner of the Metalli shopping avenue, Zug Estates AG, has confirmed that Zara has terminated the lease and will leave the Metalli in mid-August. "We have not been informed in detail about the reasons that led Zara to this decision," writes media spokesperson Philipp Hodel.

Zara belongs to the Spanish textile giant Inditex. On Tuesday, the manager of Inditex Switzerland, based in Fribourg, could not answer the question about the reasons for the planned closure. It is also unclear what will happen to the employees and whether other branches will be affected.

Sales in Metalli have developed positively
Philipp Hodel explained that it is regrettable that Zara will be leaving the shopping avenue. "But we are convinced that we will be able to welcome some exciting brands as new tenants." The Metalli has developed very well since the pandemic. "The total sales for the past year 2022 are even slightly above the level before Corona."

The Zara shop in the Metalli will close in August
Zara's shop area is 1900 square metres                  Photos: Mathias Blattmann
It is also not yet clear what will happen to the former C&A shop      Photo: Linda Leuenberger

It was only last December that it was announced that the fashion chain C&A would close its Metalli location in mid-February. Now Zara, the second major fashion shop, is leaving the shopping centre in the middle of Zug.

When asked whether Zug Estates would like to continue to have clothing shops in the Metalli, or whether it wants to set a different focus in the future, Philipp Hodel answered: "The Metalli shopping avenue will continue to offer a tenant mix in the future that meets the needs of the people of Zug. In this mix, the clothing sector, which includes clothes and shoe shops, is an integral part."

Various interested parties
Zara's shop space amounts to 1,900 square metres. How things will continue here is still open, according to Zug Estates AG – as is also the case for the former C&A shop. "Negotiations are underway with various interested parties for the retail space." It is still open whether they will be rented out as a whole or be divided into several spaces.

The real estate company is not worried about not finding suitable tenants: "As in the past, we will also find attractive new tenants for these spaces due to the unbroken attractiveness and popularity of the Metalli."