Major financial difficulties: A popular clothing outlet center near Maribor goes up for auction

A popular clothing outlet near Maribor, Roses Designer Outlet, is set to go under auction due to severe financial difficulties. Located near Sveti Križ Začretje, the complex was once touted as the first true factory outlet in Croatia. Originally developed by the Austrian group Dayland, its investment value was estimated at around €50 million upon inception. However, the company will now be put up for sale in November following legal action initiated by UniCredit Bank Austria over unpaid obligations. According to reports from Forbes Croatia, the bank has launched enforcement proceedings against Rosis Unus, the owner of the complex. The bank's claim amounts to €12.02 million, while the assessed value of the real estate stands at €13.95 million. The starting price for the initial auction is set at €11.16 million. The Roses project was ambitious from the outset. Opened in November 2008 along the A1 motorway near Sveti Križ Začretje, the formal investor was the Croatian company Rosis Unus, part of the Dayland group. Initial plans included 70 to 100 stores, with further expansion anticipated later. At the time, Dayland was expected to invest approximately €50 million into the project. As noted by Zagorje International, Roses was conceived as the first genuine "factory outlet" in Croatia. The location along the motorway was chosen primarily for its traffic accessibility. At the opening, director Roman Rogović emphasized that the motorway saw daily usage by around 35,000 people, including tourists, and that approximately three million people lived within a 90-minute drive from the center. Challenges arose almost immediately after the opening. The Economic Inspection closed the center on the day of its launch in November 2008. According to 24sata, only a few of the planned stores were open, and parts of the area still resembled a construction site, with mud and gravel present. Some opened stores lacked card payment systems, and individual stores did not meet minimum technical requirements. The inspection also found that some stores failed to meet basic technical standards. The center reopened at the beginning of December 2008. At that time, concerns about financing the project began to emerge. Rogović denied these claims, stating that the project was being financed by Bank Austria and Zagreb Bank. Despite attracting a considerable number of visitors in its early years, Roses apparently did not meet all expectations associated with the €50 million project. One challenge was the location, which, although accessible, was far enough from Zagreb to not become an automatic shopping destination for many potential visitors. Over time, the number of stores decreased, and the center began to lose some of its initial momentum. In recent years, there have been rumors of concept changes and new tenants. In 2024, Rogović told Zagorje International that Roses was undergoing a transformation process, predicting new tenants and positive changes while rejecting the notion that the project had no future. Today, the situation appears quite different. Although Roses continues to operate and its website advertises more than 60 stores and over 100 brand names, the future ownership of the complex remains uncertain. According to Rogović, who shared this information with Zagorje International earlier this week, Roses has been seeking a new owner for approximately four years. The sale has been proceeding in collaboration with the bank that finances the center. Since attempts to find a buyer among larger European retail management companies have not been successful, the bank has decided to seek solutions on the Croatian market. Rogović stated that negotiations are currently ongoing with two investment groups, one Croatian and one foreign. According to his statements, a decision regarding a potential investor is expected to be made in September. This means that the auction does not necessarily mark the final chapter in Roses' story. If an agreement is reached with one of the potential investors, the future of the complex could unfold differently. Meanwhile, the complex has entered electronic bidding.