Visit the Renoma Department Store in Wrocław to admire its striking façade and indulge in its luxury offerings. Renoma means “renowned,” a name that was chosen by the public in a plebiscite to reflect the iconic status of this prize-winning building.
Formerly named the Wertheim, this sprawling indoor retail space in Wrocław was commissioned by the wealthy Jewish Wertheim family from Berlin. The German architect Herman Dernburg completed the prestigious store in 1930. It was the largest steel frame building in Europe at the time. Escalators, a novelty back then, led to a stylish restaurant with panoramic city views.
Just years after its doors opened, anti-semitism took hold and the Jewish consortium was forced to sell. During the final bombings of World War II the store was nearly destroyed, but its steel frame survived the raging fires. In 1947, a newly erected department store opened its doors. It was called Pedet, short for Powszechny Dom Towarowy (Common Department Store). Thorough restoration and modernization efforts between 2005 and 2009 gave the building back its original features and added a new wing, doubling the mall in size.
Walk around the 1930s part of the building to see a hundred sculptures on the façade. The faces represent people from all corners of the globe. Its gold inlays and ceramic tiles add a golden glow to the building at sunrise and sunset. See how the ultra-modern new wing on Plac Czysty is connected to the original store by a colorful glass atrium.
Inside, browse some of the 120 stores and boutiques that occupy five floors of retail space. Shop for everything from Polish dried fruits and cheeses to international fashion. From the mall’s restaurants, take in the views of the Old Town. On a clear day you can see Ślęża mountain in the distance.
Find Renoma at the corner of Market Square and Piłsudski Street near the Opera House in Wrocław’s Old Town. The mall is open daily for 12 hours, except Sundays when it opens and closes an hour earlier. If you are from outside the European Union, make use of the mall’s VAT refund policy. Renoma is easy to reach on foot and by public transportation. The mall, which also houses three floors of office spaces, has a huge roof-top parking lot.
