A survey conducted by 20 minutes on Twitter had classified it in 2020 as the “ugliest” building in Rennes, far ahead of the judicial city and the Social Security tower. It must be said that the 3 Suns shopping center does not shine with its modernism. Nor by its dynamism. Inaugurated in 1979, the center and its sublime wavy smoky brown facade has taken on quite a bit of age.
Inside, it’s not much better with morbid lighting and many empty commercial cells. Wedged between the Colombier slab and the Esplanade de Gaulle, the place nevertheless has its assets. Starting with its geographical location with a metro station at its feet and the heart of the city and the train station nearby.
“Beautiful brands already interested”
Often mentioned, the modernization of the 3 Suns finally seems to be on track with a building permit application that has just been submitted and the start of work planned for 2024. “We are going to carry out a complete facelift, both outside and the interior”, assures Agnès Legros, director of the trade branch of the Giboire group, one of the many co-owners of the 6,500 m² building who will be responsible for its marketing.
To attract brands looking for space in the city center, the current small cells will be brought together to have “commercial cells between 150 and 300 m². “Some brands like Carrefour Market will remain on site but for the rest, there is likely to be a lot of change. “We already have beautiful brands that are interested,” says Agnès Legros, refusing to reveal more until the modernization project, costing several million euros, is not finalized. “Once the work is completed, the 3 Suns will become a major center of commerce in the city center,” she says.