By Michael Sauerbier
They are the shopping magnets of the inner cities. But after the bankruptcy of Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, Brandenburg’s last two department stores are in danger of going out of business. Potsdam is fighting for its city department store, Cottbus is waiting.
► View of Potsdam. The magnificent Art Nouveau atrium – a feast for the eyes. The city is proud of its historic department store in the pedestrian zone. But there is often a gaping void between the counters, shelves and showcases. The selection is too small, the prices too high, no gastronomy, no view of the baroque city center. The panorama floor: empty for years.
In 2020 the closure could still be averted. But now Galeria is thinking about the “off” for 60-80 of the 130 branches. The houses in Potsdam and Cottbus should be part of it. The Essen headquarters wants to make a decision by March. But Potsdam does not want to wait idly.
Mike Schubert (SPD) wants to save Karstadt Potsdam
Mayor Mike Schubert (50, SPD), who once trained at Hertie, has made an offer to Galeria: the city wants to offer its citizen service services in the Karstadt building. From the car registration to the bulky waste appointment. “In order to increase customer frequency and the quality of stay.“
That already exists at Galeria Kassel: There you can make appointments with the authorities, submit and collect documents, change tariffs, shop while you wait. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
► View of Cottbus. Nothing like that is planned there. “This may work in Kassel because the location of the administration, which is probably further away, is less attractive,” says city hall spokesman Jan Gloßmann. Cottbus already has a city office in the “Spreegalerie” shopping center. Gloßmann: “It seems more important to us to shop at Galeria. Mayor Tobias Schick called for this.”
City hall boss Tobias Schick (SPD) calls on the people of Cottbus to shop at Galeria Photo: picture alliance
Does it help? “Cities with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants will generally no longer have department stores,” says trade association boss Nils Busch-Petersen (59). For Berlin’s Galeria branches, on the other hand, he sees “a good perspective”. But up to six of the ten capital branches are also threatened with closure.
Karstadt has bad chances in Spandau: too big, not enough sales, they say. The fate of the Karstadt branch on Wilmersdorfer Strasse has already been sealed. Your lease expires at the end of the year.