2024. Nov. 06.

BUM behind the scenes: thematic streets provide a vibrant yet liveable local environment

In our new series, we will show how Shopping Street Management - BUM for short - has evolved, what successes it has achieved, what challenges it has overcome and what vision it has for supporting entrepreneurs. We interviewed Gabriella Király, who has bee

How can the activities of BUM be summarised?

BUM is an enterprise of the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was set up on the model of Vienna to participate in the creation of thematic streets and squares in Budapest through the support of local businesses, in cooperation with other social organisations and municipalities. This activity is a successful tool for local economic regeneration in Western Europe. We carry out research and analysis; prepare commercial and tourism studies; provide marketing and communication support; organise events. There is also a purely business side to BUM, where we deal with the rental of shops for rent, this is Kibérelem.hu.

What is the essence of such a thematic street or neighbourhood?

These are special parts of Budapest where entrepreneurs work together - with a unified look and events - to create a vibrant yet liveable local environment.

Examples of thematic city squares and streets from abroad?

Vienna's Mariahilferstrasse, Paris's Champs-Elysées, Milan's Via Montenapoleone, Munich's Kaufingerstrasse, New York's Fifth Avenue, London's New Bond Street.

What professional work goes on behind the scenes of street management?

Street management is a local form of management, there are several models. There is the 'centralised model', run by a local powerful company or property owner. There is the 'collaborative model', where stakeholders are involved as equal partners. And there is the 'contract model', where a management organisation is contracted to carry out professional tasks.

What is the typical model in Budapest?

There have been and are examples of all of them in the history of BUM. As a general rule, in Budapest, thematic streets and squares have mostly developed as a result of local entrepreneurial will and cooperation, as a local initiative.

Do you think that Budapest is in a "good position" as far as thematic streets and squares are concerned?

There are some very well functioning old neighbourhoods, there are dynamic new areas emerging, but there is still a lot of untapped potential.