Tartu Department Store Undergoes Renovation This Summer
Tartu Department Store is undergoing a renovation this summer, during which the ground floor and Department Store Food World will be primarily refreshed, but changes and renovation work will also take place on the third floor.
Tartu Department Store will begin renovation work at the end of June, which will largely affect the ground floor and third floor retail spaces. Department Store Food World will be completely renovated to open at the end of August as the region's most exceptional food store. The ground floor common areas will also receive a new look, and in addition, the spaces of Elisa, Cheese King, and Apotheka will be refreshed. At the end of August, the city center's first Mileedi flower shop will open its doors, and the Matsimoka butcher shop will also get a new lease on life.
Kristel Liivapuu, managing director of Tartu Department Store center, says that Tartu Department Store wants to offer its visitors only the best choices, which also means keeping up with the times and refreshing the center. "The goal of the renovation is to make Tartu Department Store's ground floor, led by Food World, more contemporary. We want to carry out the work as quickly as possible, which is why the stores undergoing renovation will be closed during this time. This may cause inconvenience to visitors, but we hope for understanding and patience. We plan to fully open the renovated ground floor by the end of August at the latest, but several places will remain open throughout the summer and good tastes can continue to be enjoyed even during the changes. For example, during the renovation, an unique Taluturg pop-up market will be open in the atrium of the 1st floor, where you can find fresh local products, and you can also continue to enjoy the best sushi in the city from Sushi Masters," explained Liivapuu.
The Department Store Food World, opening at the end of August, will be special both in its form and content. "We are creating a food store for our South Estonian clients that has no equal in the region. The entire Food World concept is based on a study we conducted that measured customers' journeys and preferences and provided good input on how to build one convenient and logically organized store. It is important to us that the new Food World is functional for visitors, but also innovatively sustainable thanks to modern technology," said Erkki Laugus, board member of Department Store AS.
According to Laugus, the renovation of Food World also takes into account the needs of even the most demanding food enthusiast. "We will expand the range of the unique and freshly prepared Department Store Kitchen products that are loved by customers, stock the counters with only the freshest meat and fish selection, and create a kitchen counter that, following the example of Tallinn Food World, will definitely be one of the main attractions. One thing is certain – this will be an inspiring food store where everyone will find their favorite delicacies," explained Laugus.
Liivapuu added that during the renovation work, the play area and Apollo store on the third floor will also be expanded. "We have thought about the center's younger visitors so they also have a nice time to spend in the center. The Minimängula for the very smallest has already been completed and very soon it will be complemented by Ronil, which we plan to open in early July," noted Liivapuu.
The authors of the common areas interior design project are architects from the London office Highly Creative Minds, who designed both the original interior of Tartu Department Store and the center's renovation work ten years ago. The authors of the play area are Kaidi Org and Anne Vingisar. The main contractor for the center and Department Store Food World renovation work is Savekate OÜ.
Important to know:
During renovation work, the ground floor is open at regular times with Taluturg, Sushi Masters, and Kika pet store. Additionally, pop-up Taluturg will be open in Tartu Department Store's atrium from June 27 to August 10. Department Store Food World, Matsimoka, and the flower shop will remain closed throughout the entire renovation period until the end of August. Apotheka, Elisa, Cheese Kings, and Apollo bookstore are closed for shorter periods.
Information about openings and closings can be found here: www.tartukaubamaja.ee/muutused/
