Glattzentrum

Glattzentrum, formally known as Einkaufszentrum Glatt, is a large shopping centre in Wallisellen in the Glatt Valley, immediately north of Zurich. It is one of the established retail destinations serving the Zurich metropolitan area and surrounding communities. The centre was opened in 1975 and was designed along lines associated with American suburban shopping malls, including a location close to major roads and extensive parking intended to make access by car convenient. At its opening, Glattzentrum was jointly owned by the Migros, Globus and Jelmoli groups. Each of these groups operated an anchor store in the centre, giving the mall a retail structure built around major department-store and supermarket operators as well as smaller specialist tenants. Ownership has since changed, and the centre is currently owned by Swiss Life. Migros remains present, while the former Globus operation is now also part of Migros. Jelmoli no longer has an involvement in the centre. The centre combines anchor retail, specialist shopping, food and beverage, and visitor services. According to the available reference description, it has more than 100 shops, 16 restaurants and other facilities as of 2025. The same description identifies four specialty markets, two principal remaining anchor stores, five restaurants, four bars and approximately 90 specialty shops, although tenant numbers and the commercial mix may vary over time. The offering is oriented toward everyday retail, fashion, household goods, consumer services, dining and leisure-related visits rather than a single product category. A substantial modernization took place from the middle of 2015 through the end of 2019. The renovation cost approximately 100 million Swiss francs, according to the cited reference material. The project updated the centre while retaining its role as a regional shopping destination. The Glatt Tower rises above the shopping centre and contains office and service uses. HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have been prominent tenants in the tower since 2020, extending the site beyond retail and dining. Glattzentrum is connected to the regional transport network as well as to the road system. It lies near the A1 motorway and has large parking facilities. Public transport access improved significantly when the second phase of the Stadtbahn Glattal opened in 2010, providing an elevated tram stop connected to the centre by a footbridge. The stop is now called Glatt and is served by tram line 12, which links the area with Wallisellen, Stettbach, Glattpark and Zurich Airport, together with bus services operated by VBZ and Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal. The centre is in Zürcher Verkehrsverbund fare zone 121. In front of Glattzentrum is the newer open-air Richti shopping centre, adding another retail destination to the surrounding area.

Glattzentrum opened in 1975 in Wallisellen, in the Glatt Valley north of Zurich. Its development reflected the influence of American shopping malls, particularly the idea of a large, purpose-built retail destination outside the traditional urban core. The location near the A1 motorway and the provision of substantial parking were consistent with a car-oriented access model. At the same time, the centre was positioned to draw customers from the wider Zurich region rather than serving only the immediate municipality. The original ownership structure brought together three prominent Swiss retail groups: Migros, Globus and Jelmoli. Each operated an anchor store, giving the mall a strong initial tenant base and a recognizable retail identity. This arrangement also connected Glattzentrum to the broader development of Swiss department-store and supermarket retail. Over time, the ownership and tenant structure changed. Swiss Life became the owner of the centre. Migros continued to operate a store, and the Globus store became part of Migros ownership. Jelmoli eventually ended its involvement, leaving the centre with two principal remaining anchor operations alongside specialist retail and food-and-beverage tenants. Glattzentrum developed into a regional shopping and service complex. Its offer expanded beyond the anchor stores to include specialty markets, dozens of specialist shops, restaurants, bars and other visitor facilities. The centre's position within the Zurich metropolitan area was reinforced by the growth of surrounding municipalities and by improvements to regional mobility. Before the arrival of the tram connection, access by public transport depended on bus routes connecting the centre with nearby railway stations and with Zurich Airport, Oerlikon, Dübendorf, Wallisellen and Dietlikon. Transport connectivity improved in 2010 when phase two of the Stadtbahn Glattal opened. The elevated tram stop was linked to Glattzentrum by a footbridge. The stop, now called Glatt, became part of a network connecting the centre with Wallisellen and Stettbach railway stations, Zurich Airport and the Zurich tram system. Bus connections continued to provide links with Oerlikon, Affoltern, Wangen, Dübendorf, Wallisellen and the airport. The centre is located in ZVV fare zone 121. A major renovation was carried out from mid-2015 until the end of 2019. The work reportedly cost around 100 million Swiss francs and represented the most significant recent modernization of the shopping centre. The project helped update the established 1970s retail complex for contemporary shopping patterns while preserving its role as a regional destination. The Glatt Tower above the centre adds office and service functions to the site. HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have been prominent occupants since 2020. By 2025, Glattzentrum was described as having more than 100 shops and 16 restaurants, together with other facilities. The nearby Richti shopping centre, an open-air retail development in front of Glattzentrum, provides an additional commercial environment in the surrounding area. Glattzentrum therefore functions not only as a historic mall but also as part of a broader retail and mixed-use district in the northern Zurich metropolitan region.

• 2025

  Broad retail and dining footprint reported

  [1]Glattzentrumen.wikipedia.org

  Available reference material describes Glattzentrum as hosting more than 100 shops and 16 restaurants, in addition to other facilities.

• 2020

  Glatt Tower hosts HP-related tenants

  [1]Glattzentrumen.wikipedia.org

  HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are identified as prominent tenants in the office and service tower above the shopping centre.

• 2019

  Renovation concludes

  [1]Glattzentrumen.wikipedia.org

  The multi-year renovation concludes after an investment reported at approximately 100 million Swiss francs.

• 2015

  Major renovation begins

  [1]Glattzentrumen.wikipedia.org

  A comprehensive modernization of Glattzentrum begins in the middle of the year.

• 2010

  Glattalbahn connection opens

  [1]Glattzentrumen.wikipedia.org

  The second phase of the Stadtbahn Glattal introduces an elevated tram stop connected to Glattzentrum by a footbridge, materially improving public-transport access.

• 1975

  Glattzentrum opens

  [1]Glattzentrumen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping centre opens in Wallisellen, modeled in part on American-style shopping malls and developed with Migros, Globus and Jelmoli as joint owners and anchor operators.

A large regional shopping centre combining anchor stores, specialist retail, dining, services and convenient road and public-transport access for the Zurich metropolitan area.

• Department store and supermarket retail · 1975

  Anchor retail stores

  Glattzentrum's anchor offer has historically been central to its identity. Migros remains present, while the former Globus operation is now also under Migros ownership. These stores provide high-traffic everyday and department-store-oriented retail that complements the centre's specialist tenants. Jelmoli was an original anchor operator but no longer has an involvement in the centre.

• Specialty retail · 1975

  Specialty shops and markets

  The centre includes a broad selection of specialist shops and several specialty markets. The available description refers to approximately 90 specialty shops and four specialty markets, covering the types of fashion, accessories, household, consumer and service-oriented retail commonly found in a large regional shopping centre. Individual tenants and categories can change over time.

• Food and beverage · 1975

  Restaurants and bars

  Food and beverage is an integral part of the Glattzentrum visitor proposition. The centre has been described as including restaurants and bars, with the 2025 reference describing 16 restaurants overall. Dining provides an additional reason to visit and supports the centre's role as a destination for shopping, services and leisure as well as everyday errands.

• Office and service premises

  Glatt Tower

  Glatt Tower rises above the shopping centre and contains office and service uses. It broadens the site beyond conventional retail and contributes to a mixed-use environment. HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have been prominent tenants in the tower since 2020, although the tower is not itself a consumer product line.

• 2015

  Undertake a comprehensive centre renovationStrategy

  Background

  Glattzentrum was an established 1970s shopping centre operating in a changing retail and mobility environment. The available reference material records a renovation running from mid-2015 through the end of 2019.

  Action taken

  The centre carried out a multi-year modernization programme intended to update the shopping environment and facilities.

  Aftermath

  The renovation was completed by the end of 2019 and was reported to have cost approximately 100 million Swiss francs. No further outcome metrics are provided in the available sources.

  Reported renovation cost. Approximately CHF 100 million invested (Mid-2015 to end-2019)

  Source

1. 1Glattzentrumen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Glattzentrum official websiteglatt.ch