Abstract:
Retail trade is one of the most dynamic and considerable economic sector. It is inseparable part and one of functioning base of modern cities and agglomerations. Numerous retail types creates various possibilities of forming urban structures, generating connections and creating city centers. Even the words shopping center refers to city center, which is perceived as a place where goods and services are concentrated.
Located in Northern Poland, Szczecin is capital city of West Pomeranian Voivodship. What is more, Szczecin border on Germany and its extended metropolitan area includes communities in West Pomeranian Voivodeship and German states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Thereupon Szczecin is a central place and fulfils providing services to surrounding areas, such as trade, administration, services, education, health care and more. City offers wide range of retail forms. From small convenience stores, most popular supermarkets and hypermarkets, then specialty and departmental stores and big number of shopping malls. Furthermore, there are some marketplaces which considers on German consumers or offers German commodities for polish buyers. The aim of study was to define an area where Szczecin’s influence spans in the domain of fulfilling trade functions and carter to consumer needs. It was reached by social study (consumer survey), field research (conducting statistics of cars), spatial analysis (distribution of shops and malls) and creating photographic documentation. Theoretical base embrace Christaller’s central place theory and theories about competitiveness of modern cities. The result of this study was a delimitation of Szczecin’s regional retail functions impact range on both Polish and German borderlands.
Keywords: retail trade, regional place, shopping centre, city functions extent, marketplace
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