Demolition of the historic Intershop: Prenzlau is finally drawing the line!

Demolition of the historic Intershop: Prenzlau is finally drawing the line!

In Prenzlau, the final end of a part of the GDR's history has been sealed: the old Intershop on Grabowstrasse will soon be demolished. For many East Germans, this shop was a place to reminisce, combined with the smell of Western products and a selection that was difficult to find in everyday life in the GDR. Here you could buy famous brand products, such as Matchbox cars and ball chewing gum. Back then, these iconic toys were still made of metal and sold in colorful cardboard boxes, making the shopping experience unforgettable for many. The demolition has now been ordered by René Stüpmann, the managing director of Wohnbau Prenzlau GmbH, and has already started the Nordkurier reports.

These Intershops were launched in 1962 and were originally designed as state-owned businesses (VEB) to increase the flow of foreign currency into the GDR. Tourists and other foreigners from the West were particularly targeted. The first shops were mobile sales stands in Berlin train stations, where tax-free cigarettes were offered. Over the years, Intershops expanded significantly, and by 1989 they ranged from train stations to border crossings. The success of the Intershops meant that in 1989 there were already 470 locations in the GDR. Despite the tempting offers, access for GDR citizens was restricted for a long time; It wasn't until February 1974 that they were allowed to shop there, which was a real ray of hope for many. Many experienced the Intershops as “islands of happiness” in an everyday life characterized by scarcity Wikipedia.

A chapter in history closes

After the building on Grabowstrasse had been empty for decades and could no longer be used, the decision was made to demolish it. The construction fence is already in place and the gutting of the old Intershop has begun. The walls will follow, and the property will remain undeveloped after this measure. The Brandt drugstore in the area has already been demolished and plans for a new building are also in the works. This step shows how much the city of Prenzlau is changing, with the history of the GDR also disappearing to a certain extent with the demolition.

If you look back, the Intershops were not only important for the consumer behavior of GDR citizens; they also created a clear social class. Access was often a hot topic as many citizens did not have access to foreign exchange. Over the years, a system developed in which Intershop employees also received parts of their salaries in foreign currency. However, these dynamics and the clear difference in access to consumer goods between East and West also led to tensions and conflicts within society. The Stasi watched the shops critically and kept an eye on the employees, while thefts continued to occur in the shops themselves NDR shows.

Now the time has come to put Intershop on file. The impending demolition will not only remove a building, but also a piece of history that had a special significance for many people in Prenzlau and beyond. The changes in the city and in society remind us how much times have changed and how unique memories now have to give way to the new.