E. Stetsko

Grand closed its doors on October 2. A notice appeared on the gates of the complex, informing customers that Grand was closing for technical reasons and apologizing “for the temporary inconvenience.” The same notice was published on the official website of Grand: it specified that the complex should reopen on October 6. However, the store is still closed.

Grand manager Sumaid Khalidov told Vedomosti that an inventory is being conducted at the complex. He did not give the reasons for it. According to Khalidov, the inventory will last until November 1, after which Grand will again accept customers. A Grand security officer confirmed that the store will open in November, and explained the temporary closure of the complex by a “change in management.” Khalidov categorically denied the version about the sale of Grand, but the Moscow Region government knows about the existence of a new owner. An official from the Khimki District administration of the Moscow Region, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Alliance-95 is selling the furniture complex, and the deal has most likely already been completed.

The management of Grand does not inform its tenants about what is happening. “I heard that new people will be managing Grand, but they are not telling us who they are,” a manager of one of the companies selling Romanian furniture in Grand and Three Whales told Vedomosti. She adds that many of the tenants are outraged by the forced downtime, but are unlikely to sue. “Initially, we were told that the store was closed for several days, and then that it would only open on January 15. Naturally, when they announced that work would resume on November 1, everyone was inspired. We will simply continue working and try to make up for lost time,” the manager says. She estimated the losses and lost profits of her company at approximately $150,000; the company rents about 400 sq. m. in Grand. m. Now the management of “Grand”, according to her information, has allowed companies to serve clients on the territory of the complex who ordered and paid for goods before October 2, so none of the tenants are dismantling the exhibits and moving out. This was confirmed by managers of other companies, for example, the furniture factory “8 Marta”, “Russimex”, “Allegro-Classic” and “Nigma” – they are all waiting for the outcome and are not doing anything yet. “Russimex” and “Nigma”, for example, have temporarily transferred employees from the “Grand” exhibits to their premises in “Trekh Kita”.

Sergei Zuev, the former manager of Grand, found it difficult to estimate the total losses of the complex’s tenants, but noted that the lost net profit of the shopping center’s owners as a result of the month-long downtime could amount to $700,000–800,000.

Anna Shiryaeva, general director of Magazin Magazinov, suggested that if any of the tenants wanted compensation from Grand, it would be difficult to get it. Shiryaeva recalled how one time a client of her company, a large grocery retailer, tried to include a condition in the lease agreement: if, due to the fault of the owner, the shopping center could not work for three days, it would have to pay compensation in the amount of more than $1 million. However, during the discussion, this clause was removed, says Shiryaeva, and “in general, such requirements are very rarely included in lease agreements.”

A representative of another consulting agency, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that most operators represented, for example, in Grand-1, are not legally tenants, but “work under supply or commission contracts.”

"Grand" has ceased trading