Luxury Brands Stand in Line for a Store at Andrássy Út

February 16th, 2014 Andrássy út is getting even more popular amongst luxury brands: currently 8 fashion brands are waiting for to be able to open a store there, but the street is full, thus they can only have a place for a store if one of the current ones closes.

The main street of the luxury brands, Andrássy út became so popular, that the new brands who are claiming a store there have to wait. Currently 8 international fashion brands are standing in line to be able to open a store there, but the street is full, so they can only have a place, if one of the current ones closes. The market of retail properties is betting busier: the quantity of sold products increased by 2 percent last year. In the last few years – replacing Váci út – Andrássy út became the most popular place for a store for the international luxury boutiques, and the stores on Rákóczi út and the renewed Ferenciek tere are in demand, too.

History of Andrássy út
The more than 2-kilometres-long Andrássy út is running across the 6th district of Budapest, connecting the city centre with Városliget (City Park). The Metro Line 1 runs under the avenue. The street has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. It had several different names before, like Sugárút (Avenue), Andrássy út, Sztálin út, Magyar Ifjúság útja or Népköztársaság útja; it got its current name back in 1990. The idea of planting trees along the street came up in 1841. The plan of building a new avenue came from former Prime Minister Count Gyula Andrássy. The constructions started in 1872, and the plans of the buildings lining the street were made by architects Miklós Ybl and István Linczbauer. The avenue got ready by 1876, and was named of Gyula Andrássy in 1885.

The Avenue Was Renewed Several Times
The avenue got renewed between 1988 and 1996, but several reconstructions were realized before as well: e. g. in the 1920s new trees were planted replacing the old ones. The reconstructions of the Metro Line 1 started in 1987, and the alley was renewed between 1989 and 1990. The avenue got new street furniture, pavement and lamps. The reconstructions of the metro line continued in 1995, and the more than 100-year-old ducting was also replaced. The work cost a total HUF 696 million. Several famous buildings stand on the avenue, like the Postal Museum, the Hungarian State Opera House, the former Ballet Academy or the Parisian Grand Store.
Sources:
hvg.huhu.wikipedia.org