Fire in the Renate Club: Friedrichshain is worried about popular garden!

Fire in the Renate Club: Friedrichshain is worried about popular garden!

In the night of Thursday, June 19, 2025, there was a fire in the popular club "Renate" in Friedrichshain. The entrance and outdoor area of ​​the club, which is known for its lively atmosphere and numerous events, were affected. Fortunately, the fire brigade managed to prevent the flames from spreading to the building itself. As rbb24 , the fire brigade was alerted at 2:14 a.m. and was on site with 37 emergency services. Fortunately, there were no injuries because there were no people in the club at the time of the fire.

residents reported loud hustle and bustle that disturbed the nightly calm. The fire location also included a wooden fence and a barrack in the so-called "Renate Garden". The cause of the fire is currently being determined, although arson cannot be excluded. Despite the incident, the club remains open, and the planned program for the upcoming Fête de la Musique should take place as originally planned. Interestingly, the heat of the fire was damaged by a traffic light system at the Markgrafendamm corner of Alt-Stralau, which had to be repaired on Thursday afternoon.

gentrification and their effects

The situation around the "Renate" club is not isolated, but reflects the stronger gentrification in Berlin. In Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, two of the most sought -after quarters in the city, rental prices have increased dramatically in recent years. Tenants often have little chance of finding cheap living space, since landlords can increasingly control their tenants. As pagewizz , the rental price for apartments in these districts began around 7 to 8 euros per square meter, which is unabractive for many low-income earners.

The club "Renate" sees itself in difficulties due to the impending renovation of the entire area and the new building plans, especially without the surrounding garden. According to Deutschlandfunk have had to close several clubs in Berlin in recent years, threatened by rising rents and urgent construction projects of the real estate developer. This development meant that social and cultural projects in particular are exposed to increasing pressure.

A look into the future

The rental agreement between the club "Renate" and Tetras Grundbesitz GmbH expires on December 31, which increases the uncertainty for the operators. It can be expected that the discussion about the preservation of cultural institutions in the course of the gentrification will become more important in the coming months. The residents and club operators are calling for a rethink and more say in future urban development projects.

Friedrichshain remains a hot pavement, not only for night owls, but also for activists and lawyers of social justice that fight for the preservation of cultural diversity in the city. It remains to be seen whether the club "Renate" and other institutions can defy the challenges of gentrification.