Historic Cepelia building revitalized. Opening date announced

According to Empik's press office, the new store on Marszałkowska Street will open its doors on Friday, December 13.

"This will be the most modern flagship store, spanning 1,300 square meters across three levels. Empik Marszałkowska will feature a dedicated music zone with gadgets for fans, the widest selection of vinyl records - including rare, collectible editions - and foreign editions of books and albums unavailable at other locations," the company stated in a press release.

The Cepelia Pavilion, designed by renowned architect Zygmunt Stępiński, was completed in 1966. Its structure was notable for its lightweight steel frame and almost entirely glass façades, giving the impression that the upper floor floated in mid-air. The design was based on the concept of a retail and service space seamlessly blending with the street environment. For decades, the building housed a store offering handcrafted works by Polish folk artists.

Over time, Cepelia was replaced by other stores and service outlets. The once distinctive metal façade was covered with orange cladding, large advertisements appeared, and the original ceramics were defaced with pseudo-graffiti and scribbles. After the departure of the last tenant, the building remained derelict for several years.

The turning point came in February of this year, when long-anticipated renovations began. Initially, the identity of the new occupant was kept secret. In early May, however, Empik announced plans to open a three-story bookstore in the historic building, complete with a stage for cultural events and author meetings.

The new Empik store will fill the gap left by the flagship location that operated for over 70 years on Nowy Świat Street. Empik vacated that site in 2022, citing disagreements over a significant rent increase. Since then, the Nowy Świat building has remained empty.