This kiosk is a bank in the neighborhood. For decades, the “Freie Scholle” has been buying newspapers and cigarettes from Kosicki at Waidmannsluster Damm 78 in Reinickendorf.
By Oliver Ohmann
The senior boss wants to slowly say goodbye to his well-deserved retirement. Julia Bethke is ready to take over. The 39-year-old is an old hand in the business and knows gastronomy and the newspaper trade inside out. The BZ stopped by on Tuesday.
“I’ll be right there, but first the customers!” Julia Bethke sorts the senior’s lottery tickets, after all, she won 21.50. “Well, now I’m here.”
In the beautiful shop, Julia Bethke talks about everyday life in the Scholle, the famous building cooperative settlement. “You know each other and you like to chat. Plaice gossip, of course, but also insider knowledge.”
In the shop window a reference to the next plaice festival in May, above it a private advertisement for a house history. “I’m from Heiligensee, not far, now I live right across the street,” says Bethke.
If the negotiations with the bank go well, they can take over the newsagent and the apartment that goes with it. “Keep your fingers crossed,” she says, and is already with the next customer.
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“I’m going to Brenninkmeyer’s later,” reveals the older lady – and Julia Bethke is one of the Berliners who still know that this means C&A.
“Actually, we don’t have any customers here, but neighbors and even friendships. That’s why I’m totally up here.”
The next customer takes a carton of cigarettes. He refuses the usual free lighter (“enough at home already”), but would be happy to have a BZ with it. “You need the newspaper in your hand at the breakfast table,” he says. “Sometimes to hide behind it a bit, right?”
Julia Bethke laughs, and so it goes on until the end of the day. Hopefully things will work out with the bank, the BZ and the whole Schollen-Kiez keep their fingers crossed.
Tell us your favorite kiosk in Berlin
The first kiosk opened in 1905 on Leipziger Platz – and of course the BZ was already in the window. We are proud of the people who bring the voice of Berlin to our readers every day. Every kiosk is a meeting place in the neighborhood and indispensable.
That’s why we’re now introducing Berlin’s favorite kiosks and, of course, the people who run the kiosks. Dear Berliners, tell us your favorite kiosk and we will introduce it. Of course you too, dear kiosk operator, can introduce yourself.
Simply mail to: [email protected]
