The owners of Sliema’s Plaza shopping centre have agreed a deal to purchase the adjacent Carpisa store, WhosWho.mt can confirm.
In a company announcement yesterday, Plaza announced that it has entered into a promise of sale agreement for the acquisition of adjacent commercial premises at 16, Tower Road.
The final deed is expected to be concluded by April 2027 and Plaza’s management is currently searching for a suitable tenant.
WhosWho.mt can confirm that the shop in question is Carpisa, an Italian franchised outlet that specialises in suitcases, bags and wallets and that has been open in Sliema since 2011.
Besides the Sliema outlet, Carpisa also operates a store in Birkirkara.
Questions sent to Carpisa’s Maltese franchisee, Granati Nardi Limited, including whether it plans to open a new store, remain unanswered.
As for the Sliema outlet, Plaza is understood to be seeking a major retail name to take over the space, although it is keeping its options open.
The Plaza Shopping Centre was Malta’s first shopping mall, opening its doors in 1993.
Its acquisition of Carpisa comes following a period of change after Virgata HQ Limited significantly increased its stake in the company from 6.2 per cent to 31.4 per cent, becoming its largest shareholder as a result.
Virgata Founder Jordi Goetstouwers Odena was subsequently appointed Plaza Chairperson and pushed forward a share buyback programme for up to 2.4 million shares priced at between €0.75 and €0.95 each.
