Tag: berlin shopping

Categories
Fashion

Another One Gone

Again, the Berlin department store scene suddenly got smaller. Another big retailer is closing the doors. Galeria Kaufhaus in Alexanderplatz will go dark at the end of 2025. According to local papers, property owner Commerz Real wants to develop the property as a mixed use location of apartments and small shops for the Mitte. What the heck is going on? After years of struggling with bad management, falling foot traffic, Galeria Kaufhaus’ new owners hoped for a fresh start reviving the fortunes of the 145 year old chain. Those plans took a setback on Friday afternoon. Rumours circulated the six floor flagship brick and mortar locale was being considered for other uses. After heated negotiations, the owners decided not to renew the lease of the prominent retail outlet.

Galeria Kaufhaus in Alexanderplatz

As a frequent shopper, I am a bit sad GK is closing. The Kaufhaus sat on a transport crossroad of bus, metro, train, tram and bike. Although it is not my idea emporium, I found it easy to pop in now and again to browse or buy a gift. The houseware section offers a nice selection. Secondly, the sweets and beauty selection always have goods on special offers. Berlin’s City East will feel a bit empty in 2026.

Categories
Feature

Department Stores Downfalls

Galeria Kaufhaus

Is the department store going the way of the Dodo Bird in Germany? Once these temples to consumption were places of dreams offering shoppers the best of the best.  Those days are long gone.  As the retail carnage continues, once mighty shopping temples have fallen silent.

In Berlin, the department store culture slow death is sad to watch.  Germany’s two largest chains Karstadt, founded in 1881, and Galeria Kaufhaus, 1889, formed Galeria Karstadt Kaufhaus from a 2018 merger.  The two struggling stores fell far due to inconsistent management strategies, asset stripping, covid, bankruptcies and of course, shoppers’ migration to online platforms.  After years of struggling, the new owners decided to jettison fifty-two locations by this summer.   Let’s hope the current proprietors will invest in updating their remaining eighty-two mouldy locales.

Speaking of July 31st, Berlin’s Galeries Lafayette will permanently close its stylish 9000 square meter Friedrichstrasse location after twenty-years.  The French retailer cited changing commercial dynamics for the decision.  In this writer’s opinion, the store was in the wrong location anchoring a decaying Zombie Mall.

Galeria Kaufhaus
Kaufhaus
Galeria Kaufhaus
Kaufhaus
Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette
Categories
Fashion

The Superdry Surprise

Super Dry Berlin

I got invited by the Superdry press team to look over the British retailer’s clothing line at the Berlin Kudamm store. I was surprised by the wide selection and good service of the two story flagship location at the Kranzler Eck.

This is a preview of the upcoming story.

  • Womenswear pieces
  • SuperDry Berlin
    Menswear pieces
  • SuperDry Berlin
    Vintage Fashion Pieces
Categories
Feature

Black Mirror is REAL!

Walking down the Berlin’s most commercial Boulevard on Saturday during the midday. After three months in lockdowns, this is the surreal result. In the old times the side walks would be bustling with shoppers, people hanging out, restaurants teeming. This year, no! As the New Normal grips the world, this once prominent location feels abandoned. Lost in a bygone time, stores are closed, shop locales permanently shuddered. I hope this is not a glimpse of physical retail’s future. Dystopian, a scene from the television show Black Mirror. 

Imagine,,, walking on a cold, lonely street with no people, no place to sit. All because you have a shopping appointment at an exact time. Pretty Bleak.

  • Wittenberg Platz Metro Station
  • Wittenberg Platz
  • Dead Bikini Shopping Area
  • Saturday at 12

  • Ku'damm Berlin
  • Closed Scotch and Soda
  • Closed Primark
    Primark Closed
  • Across from the Apple Store

A third lock down is on the horizon.

Categories
Feature

Black Friday in 2020

I ventured out on Saturday to check on the stores on Black Friday. In Alexander Platz the normal Christmas hustle and bustle was there but not overwhelming. Covid 19 worries kept many people away from the stores.

Categories
Fashion

Summer Sunglasses 2021

Summer time, Sunglasses for 2020.  What style do you want to wear? Going over the collection, I found a pair I liked for people watching. In Berlin, my friends at Schoenhelden Optics give tips.