Shopping Centre Marywilska 44
An indoor marketplace and shopping centre in Warsaw, Poland, destroyed by fire in May 2024.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Shopping Centre Marywilska 44, commonly known as Marywilska 44, was a large indoor marketplace at 44 Marywilska Street in Warsaw’s Białołęka district. Opened in 2010, it combined a conventional shopping centre with a substantial indoor trading hall and became one of Warsaw’s largest retail destinations. Before its destruction, the complex covered approximately 80,000 square metres in total, including about 62,100 square metres assigned to the shopping centre and roughly 12,100 square metres used for the indoor marketplace. It contained around 1,400 shops and service outlets. The site was particularly associated with small traders and with the Vietnamese-Polish business community. Many vendors had previously operated at the former 10th-Anniversary Stadium marketplace, which was closed and demolished as part of preparations for construction of the Kazimierz Górski National Stadium. Marywilska 44 consequently served not only as a retail destination but also as an important commercial base for migrant entrepreneurs and family-run businesses. Accounts concerning the aftermath of the fire noted that some traders kept cash and business assets in on-site safes, in part because migrants could face difficulties obtaining conventional banking services. The destruction therefore affected both commercial premises and household finances. At approximately 3:30 a.m. on 12 May 2024, a fire began in the eastern building. The blaze destroyed the majority, and according to reference accounts effectively all, of the marketplace complex. The incident eliminated the premises of a large number of independent retailers and interrupted a major concentration of wholesale and consumer trading in northern Warsaw. Polish authorities later alleged that the fire was an act of arson connected to Russian intelligence operations. In May 2025, the Polish government publicly attributed responsibility to Russian intelligence, while in October 2025 three Ukrainian men were reported to have received prison sentences for participation in a group connected with this and other arson cases. These allegations and convictions form part of the post-fire security and criminal investigation record rather than a commercial rebranding of the centre. The owner announced plans to create temporary trading space using approximately 800 intermodal containers. By October 2024, reference material reported that only about 400 containers had been made available. Tensions between affected traders and the owner contributed to the creation of an alternative marketplace called Modlińska 6D, approximately three kilometres south of the original site, with about 250 additional stalls. The original Marywilska 44 facility has not been documented as having reopened after the May 2024 fire.
History
Marywilska 44 opened in 2010 at 44 Marywilska Street in Warsaw’s Białołęka district. It was developed as a large indoor commercial complex combining a shopping centre with an extensive marketplace. The facility was associated with the Mirbud group and ultimately provided approximately 80,000 square metres of commercial space. Its reported configuration included about 62,100 square metres for the shopping centre and approximately 12,100 square metres for the indoor market. Around 1,400 stores and service businesses operated within the complex. The marketplace had a strong social and commercial connection to Warsaw’s Vietnamese-Polish community. Numerous traders had relocated there after the closure and demolition of the 10th-Anniversary Stadium marketplace, which was cleared during preparations for the construction of the Kazimierz Górski National Stadium. Marywilska 44 therefore became a successor trading location for independent merchants who sold goods through small retail units and wholesale-oriented stalls. Its tenant base made the centre an important part of Warsaw’s migrant entrepreneurship ecosystem as well as a destination for consumers seeking a broad range of merchandise. In the early hours of 12 May 2024, at around 3:30 a.m., a fire began in the eastern building. The fire caused catastrophic damage and destroyed the majority of the facility. The loss affected a large number of shopkeepers, whose premises, stock, documents, and other assets were reportedly destroyed. Reference accounts also described the loss of cash held in safes by some families and businesses, citing barriers that migrants could encounter when opening bank accounts. After the disaster, the owner announced a plan to provide temporary premises made from approximately 800 intermodal containers. By October 2024, only about 400 containers had reportedly been made available. Disputes and dissatisfaction among traders contributed to the establishment of an alternative marketplace at Modlińska 6D, approximately three kilometres south of the original centre. That site was reported to offer around 250 stalls. The fire later became part of a national-security investigation. In May 2025, the Polish government stated that Russian intelligence was responsible for the destruction and characterized it as an arson attack. In October 2025, three Ukrainian men were sentenced to prison terms of between one year and four months and five and a half years for involvement in a group connected with this and other arson incidents. The original Marywilska 44 complex has not been documented as having resumed normal operations, and its post-fire status is therefore treated as defunct.
- 2025
Government alleges Russian intelligence involvement
[1]The Polish government attributed the fire to an arson attack carried out by Russian intelligence agents.
- 2025
Sentences issued in linked arson cases
[1]Three Ukrainian men received prison sentences for participation in a group connected with the Marywilska 44 fire and other arson incidents.
- 2024
Fire destroys the complex
[1]A fire beginning on 12 May destroyed the majority of the marketplace and removed the premises used by approximately 1,400 stores and services.
- 2024
Alternative trading sites emerge
[1]Temporary container retail space was planned, while displaced vendors also created the Modlińska 6D marketplace.
- 2010
Marketplace opens in Białołęka
[1]Marywilska 44 opened at 44 Marywilska Street in Warsaw as a combined shopping centre and indoor marketplace.
Products and positioning
A large, value-oriented indoor marketplace and multi-tenant shopping destination serving Warsaw consumers, wholesale buyers, and independent traders, with a notable connection to the Vietnamese-Polish business community.
Retail marketplace · 2010
Indoor retail marketplace
The core offering was a large indoor trading environment made up of numerous independently operated stalls and shops. Merchants sold general consumer merchandise, fashion-related goods, household items, and other products, while some units provided services. The marketplace format allowed a diverse tenant base, including many small businesses linked to the Vietnamese-Polish community.
Shopping centre · 2010
Shopping centre
Alongside the market hall, Marywilska 44 operated as a conventional multi-tenant shopping centre. Its reported shopping-centre area was approximately 62,100 square metres, forming part of an overall complex of about 80,000 square metres. The centre accommodated a broad mix of retail and service operators rather than a single branded product line.
Controversies
2025
Alleged Russian intelligence-linked arson
The Polish government concluded that the May 2024 destruction of Marywilska 44 was an arson attack carried out by Russian intelligence agents. The allegation placed the commercial-site fire within a wider national-security investigation.
2025
Criminal convictions connected with arson cases
Three Ukrainian men were sentenced in October 2025 for participation in a group associated with the Marywilska 44 fire and other arson cases. The reported sentences ranged from one year and four months to five and a half years.
Brand decisions
2024
Plan for temporary container-based trading spaceStrategyBackground
The May 2024 fire destroyed the premises used by a large number of independent traders and service providers.
Action taken
The owner promised to establish temporary commercial space using approximately 800 intermodal containers.
Aftermath
Reference material reported that only about 400 containers had been provided by October 2024. Some vendors created the separate Modlińska 6D marketplace instead.
Recent events
- 2024
Fire destroys Marywilska 44 marketplace in Warsaw[1]
Other
A fire broke out in the eastern building at approximately 3:30 a.m. on 12 May 2024 and destroyed the majority of the indoor marketplace and shopping centre.
- 2024
Temporary container market planned for displaced vendors[1]
Other
Following the fire, the owner promised temporary retail space consisting of approximately 800 intermodal containers. Reference material reported that around 400 had been provided by October.
- 2024
Displaced traders establish Modlińska 6D marketplace[1]
Other
Amid disagreements concerning the owner’s temporary accommodation arrangements, vendors established an alternative shopping centre at Modlińska 6D, roughly three kilometres south of Marywilska 44, with approximately 250 stalls.
Sources2 sources
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