During the first three quarters of 2025, Budhouse Group’s shopping malls welcomed more than 19 million visitors, a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2024. However, footfall is still 16% lower than in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Nikolsky Mall in Kharkiv showed the most significant growth, with a 44% increase in visitors. Traffic at Lubava Mall in Cherkasy and Forum Lviv in Lviv rose by 3% compared to 2024.
Budhouse Group explains that Kharkiv’s rapid recovery is due to a decrease in air raid alerts and shelling intensity in 2025, which has improved safety and encouraged people to return to shopping centers.
On average, footfall across Budhouse Group’s mall network remains 8% below 2021 levels. The main factor is Nikolsky Mall, where traffic is still 20% lower than four years ago, primarily because many international retailers, including Inditex and H&M, have not fully resumed operations.
By contrast, Forum Lviv and Lubava Mall have already exceeded their 2021 figures by 4% and 3%, respectively.
“We are observing a steady trend of retail recovery in Ukraine despite the challenging environment. The increase in footfall shows that consumers are returning to shopping centers and businesses are ready to operate and invest. Kharkiv is a clear example: as soon as the security situation improved, we saw a sharp increase in traffic. We expect that once major international brands return to Nikolsky Mall, this property will surpass its pre-war performance,” said Maksym Gavryushin, Chief Operating Officer of Budhouse Group.
Budhouse Group is one of Ukraine’s leading real estate developers specializing in commercial properties. Its portfolio includes Nikolsky Mall in Kharkiv, Lubava Mall in Cherkasy, Forum Lviv in Lviv, Khortitsa Palace Hotel in Zaporizhzhia, and the premium residential complex Linden Luxury Residence in Kyiv.
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