Avia Mall to Open in May 2025: Long-Awaited Launch in Minsk-Mir

After several years of waiting and multiple postponements, the residents of the multifunctional complex "Minsk-Mir" have finally received official confirmation: the Avia Mall shopping center will open its doors in May 2025. This news, announced by representatives of the Oktyabrsky district administration of the capital, has become a long-awaited answer for thousands of Minsk residents living in an actively developing area of the city.

The History of Postponements and Expectations

The construction history of Avia Mall includes several planning stages and shifts in the opening date. Initially, the developer planned to open the shopping center as early as 2022, then the date was postponed to 2023. Later, there was information suggesting a possible opening in 2024, and at the end of last year rumors circulated that the launch of the shopping center would be timed with the opening of the "Aerodromnaya" metro station. However, on December 30, 2024, the facility still had not commenced operations. In January 2025, the developer officially announced the postponement of the opening to 2025 without specifying a particular date. And only now has the Oktyabrsky district administration officially confirmed plans to open the shopping center in May 2025, likely timing the event with the May holidays.

Reasons for the Delay

The first deputy head of the Oktyabrsky district administration, Denis Vikhrenko, explained the reasons for the lengthy preparation for the opening:

"The opening of such a large shopping center requires the developer to carefully work through all aspects, including legal matters related to lease agreements, as well as compliance with safety norms and standards and adherence to current legislation. It is a labor-intensive and slow process."

According to the administration representative, the ultimate goal of the project is to create a facility that will make the Oktyabrsky district and the capital even more comfortable, especially for the residents of the experimental multifunctional complex "Minsk-Mir". Amid the multiple postponements of the opening, various theories circulated in the city regarding the reasons for the delay. Among the most discussed were assumptions about soil subsidence and foundation problems, as well as difficulties with interior finishing work. However, officials did not confirm these versions.

Current Status of the Project

At present, preparatory work is actively underway in the shopping center. The owner of the facility is investing significant resources in addressing all aspects related to the opening and is coordinating the activities of tenants who are reconfiguring and remodeling their spaces within the shopping center. Visually, Avia Mall has long appeared ready for opening. As early as December 2024, when new metro stations were being launched, the building’s exterior seemed completely finished, further fueling the citizens' expectations.

Anchor Tenants and Initial Openings

Minsk residents are particularly drawn to the information about the first tenants of the shopping center. According to official data, the anchor tenant in Avia Mall will be LLC "Grinroznitsa". The first operating facility will be the Green hypermarket, the opening of which is planned for April 30, 2025 — a few days before the official launch of the entire shopping center. Information about other tenants of the shopping complex has not been officially disclosed yet. The developer recommends keeping track of news about the opening and potential tenants on the official Avia Mall website.

Significance for the District and the City

The opening of Avia Mall is of significant importance for the development of the "Minsk-Mir" infrastructure — one of the most ambitious and large-scale residential complexes in the Belarusian capital. The location of the shopping center near the "Aerodromnaya" metro station makes it particularly attractive in terms of transportation accessibility. For the residents of the complex, the emergence of a full-fledged shopping center with a hypermarket means a significant improvement in the local everyday infrastructure. Until now, many had to travel to other parts of the city for shopping, which had created certain inconveniences.

Conclusion

The May opening of Avia Mall will be an important event not only for the residents of "Minsk-Mir" but also for the entire Oktyabrsky district of the capital. The shopping center, long the subject of anticipation and rumors, is finally preparing to welcome its first visitors. Although the exact opening date in May has not yet been announced, as the time approaches, the district administration and the developer will likely provide more detailed information about the event and a complete list of tenants who will operate in the new shopping center. It is to be hoped that this time the specified schedule will be met, and the residents of "Minsk-Mir" will finally be able to enjoy the services of the long-awaited shopping facility.