Roma Outlet Village opens, with 100 million invested in a centre housing 90 shops
The Arcus Real Estate Group is renovating and breathing new life into a building that has stood abandoned for 10 years, with positive benefits for the whole area north of Rome
It is time to revisit Marc Augé’s perspective, in which he described shopping centres as ‘non-places’, devoid of any connection to their local area and its people. The evolution of shopping habits, and the resulting response from retailers, is instead creating ‘platform places’ – centres that are in close dialogue with their local areas and can support their prosperity, focusing not only on the retail offering but also on promoting their history, culture and products of excellence.
It was in this spirit that the Roma Outlet Village was inaugurated, a new project by Arcus Real Estate, a company belonging to Stilo Immobiliare Finanziaria, a property investment holding company that is part of the Percassi Group: It is situated in the municipality of Sant’Oreste, along the A1 motorway, around 30 minutes from Rome. The project, which represents an investment of 100 million, covers an area of 21,000 square metres and will offer 90 shops within the coming months. The project will have a positive impact on the local area from an urban planning perspective too, as it repurposes the abandoned structure of the former Soratte Outlet, which opened in 2008 but closed in 2020 following years of gradual decline in visitor numbers.
The brand mix focuses on premium clothing brands (Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Victoria’s Secret, Nike, Guess, Timberland, U.S. Polo, Il Lanificio and Delsey have already opened their outlets, with Geox, John Richmond and Trussardi set to follow), whilst also featuring a range of food outlets, including, amongst others, a McDonald’s restaurant and a Starbucks café. It is estimated that the outlet will provide employment for 800 people, including related jobs, once the second phase – which is already planned – is complete: “We will first need to work on raising brand awareness of the project, and collaboration with local organisations will be crucial in this regard,” commented Luca Nasi, general manager of Arcus Real Estate.
Roma Outlet Village is conveniently situated near the Ponzano Romano exit on the A1, and a shuttle service will provide a link to the nearby railway stations at Sant’Oreste and Stimigliano. There are also plans to create a tourism and experiential circuit that will showcase the outlet alongside other iconic sites in the area, starting with the Nazzano Tevere-Farfa Nature Reserve and the bunker on nearby Mount Soratte – a structure commissioned by Mussolini in 1937 – extending to include the Sabina and Tuscia basins, areas of recognised but as yet undeveloped tourist potential.
For Arcus Real Estate, this is its third project following the Sicilia Outlet Village (opened in Agira in 2010, now comprising 170 shops and covering 36,000 square metres) and the Torino Outlet Village (in Settimo Torinese since 2017, with 140 shops and a floor area of 31,000 square metres), as well as the full-price shopping centre Oriocenter, which has 300 shops and covers 105,000 square metres. “The outlook for 2027 is one of cautious optimism, given the overall situation,” comments Nasi. “We look forward to next year with confidence, aware of the opportunities but also of the challenges linked to an economic climate and consumer trends that are constantly evolving and becoming increasingly challenging. Whilst the centres in Turin and Sicily are now well-established, particular attention will naturally be focused on Rome: the aim is to support its growth and gradually consolidate its position, making the most of its potential and the opportunities offered by a market of great interest.”
