After a failed attempt to sell the four-star Zodiac Hotel in Constanța, a €5 million hotel, is avoiding stagnation by strategically repositioning itself on the local market. The relevance of this news is in demonstrating a viable alternative to outright sale of high-value real estate assets: leasing to a strong, growing local brand. The transformation of the hotel under the management of the Sofra restaurant chain indicates a flexibility in the hospitality market, where operators specialized in the gastronomic segment are taking over and integrating accommodation services to create complex concepts.
The Zodiac Hotel in Constanța, a well-known four-star accommodation establishment, will operate under a new concept, being taken over on a rental basis by the Sofra brand, recognized for its Turkish restaurants. The decision comes almost two years after the property was put up for sale for €5m, a deal that failed to materialize. The new operator has already announced a complete transformation of the location, which will integrate a restaurant, a terrace, an events hall and a modernized accommodation unit, continuing the hospitality tradition under a new identity.
The property, owned by Atlantida Grama SRL, controlled by Nicușor Barbu and Corina Aurora Barbu, was inaugurated in 2009 and is strategically located near Tăbăcărie Park. The building, structured on basement, ground floor and four floors, has 22 rooms and 27 bathrooms. It was listed for sale in February 2024 at a price including VAT.
Representatives from Sofra confirmed the takeover, stating that the location is “renewing itself and taking on a new shape under the signature Sofra ~ Turkish Restaurant”. They emphasized that the new project adds to the existing portfolio, which already includes successful brands such as Sofra Lake and Sofra Time, and will write a new story in the gastronomic and hotel landscape of Constanta.