More vacant shops in Geneva

Thursday, 19 March 2026 06:30

Vacant shopfronts are on the rise in Geneva, with commercial vacancies now at their highest level since 1994.

The city alone saw a 39 percent increase in empty retail spaces over the past year.

Experts say around 250 shopfronts are currently vacant, warning the situation could worsen without action.

The trend is spreading across the country, with cities like Lausanne and Yverdon also affected.

Analysts point to online shopping, falling purchasing power, and high rents as key factors behind the decline of traditional retail.

More from Bitesize News

Emergency heatwave plans active

Geneva and Vaud are activating their heatwave plans from today as temperatures could climb to 37 over the next couple of days.
Parliament backs VAT hike for pension payments

The lower house of parliament, the National Council, has rejected the mixed-financing plan and voted only to raise VAT to fund the 13th old-age pension.
Parliament rejects trade agreement

In a surprise reversal, the parliament has rejected a major free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of South American nations.
Sperm donation laws hit setback

A proposal to make it easier for same-sex couples and other intended parents to adopt children born through sperm donation has hit a setback in Parliament.
AI hits travel agent

The online travel agent Lastminute.com is cutting a quarter of its workforce — around 400 jobs — by the end of 2026 to restructure around artificial intelligence.
Migros upsets locals with wrong number

Migros has sparked an outcry after using the French number form "soixante-dix" instead of the local "septante" in a recent YouTube advert.