Local entrepreneurs, part of RIVUS: more than 20% of the retail space dedicated to Cluj-based businesses

In RIVUS, the urban regeneration project developed on the former Carbochim industrial platform, local entrepreneurs will play an important role, alongside national and international brands, in creating a destination connected to the dynamics of the city. Nearly 20% of the retail offer will be provided by Cluj-based businesses in various industries, ranging from food (such as Taste of Asia and the Meron coffee shop) to services and lifestyle concepts (such as Hairgonomy or Your Daily Pilates). With these operators, RIVUS aims to diversify its offer and to support local initiatives that add authenticity and relevance to the client experience.

RIVUS project is designed as a meeting place for the community, where the experiences, services and products will help build the identity of the place. With this approach, RIVUS is bringing the brands and concepts that are most relevant to Cluj-Napoca city closer to the public, while also supporting the local and economy and helping create new jobs.

The retail component of RIVUS will accommodate 400-plus stores spanning a 142,000 square meters total leasable area, featuring a diverse mix of concepts, ranging from fashion and beauty, to sports, services, food & beverage, entertainment, educational, and cultural concepts. More than 20% of these premises will be occupied by local entrepreneurs, completing the offer designed to bring together relevant brands for the community in Cluj.

The RIVUS Local Stories series will present the stories of entrepreneurs who decided to join the project, with an emphasis on their with an emphasis on their journey, local identity, and contribution to the community. The first local brands announced here include Taste of Asia (Asian specialty store), Hairgonomy (premium local beauty salon), Meron (one of the most beloved specialty coffee chains), as well as Your Daily Pilates (a boutique studio dedicated for Reformer Pilates). The offer is further complemented by other local hospitality brands, lifestyle services, and healthcare services, that are firmly rooted in the preferences of the local community.

RIVUS Local Stories kicks off with the story of the entrepreneurs at Taste of Asia, a store offering a diverse range of Asian products and authentic ingredients from various regions of Asia. From rice, noodles, and seaweed, to dry products and preserves, soft drinks, as well as kitchen accessories and cookbooks. The brand was founded in 2013 as a family business based in Cluj-Napoca, and in 2024 they joined the Iulius Mall network with one store in Cluj and then in Timișoara: “In the malls, you have greater exposure to the public; there are many more customers, particularly among young people. Although I also operate online, there is a great difference between shopping online and just seeing a picture, and shopping in-store and enjoying a complete experience. Our current location in Iulius Mall Cluj, for example, is perhaps the best performer for our business profile,” said Alin Varga, founder of Taste of Asia.