Pure nostalgia: Templin Kaufhalle closes chapters of the past!

Pure nostalgia: Templin Kaufhalle closes chapters of the past!

Memories erupted in the southern part of Templin when the department store finally gained new splendor after years of being in the shadows. Harri Schröder, who worked as a warehouse manager and later as a fish seller since it opened in 1979, offers a look back at an era that shaped many people in Cologne. "The kaufhalle was more than just a supermarket. There was community here," said Schröder, who took early retirement a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, but never broke off contact with former colleagues and customers. Nordkurier reports on the strong connection that people had to this place.

Gisela Senftleben, who began her career at the makeshift kiosk and worked as a cashier until she retired, still remembers the bizarre events vividly. When the old kiosk was demolished, a 20 cm thick layer of woodlice was found, an unexpected witness to the history of this place. Klaus-Dieter Kleiß, who lived at the market, also has many stories about the department store, which was affectionately known as the “old hall”. The department store on Mühlenstrasse is a part of Cologne's history, the beginnings of which can be traced back to the 1960s, when the concept of the department store became popular in the GDR MDR.

Nostalgia and new paths

Department stores emerged in the GDR at the end of the 1960s and have now become synonymous with everyday shopping, as they are very reminiscent of today's supermarkets or discounters. With an area of ​​around 1,400 square meters, in a simply designed architecture, they were the place where “everyday goods” could be purchased. The first department store on Mühlenstraße was opened in 1964 under the direction of Walter Haak. Manfred Paesler reports how the makeshift kiosk was initially slowly expanded as the residential area grew. The nostalgic memory of the HO department store lives on to this day, even if it no longer exists.

After reunification, the department store was converted into a Spar store, which meant a big change for many residents. Claudia Schröder says that the small shop where they shopped many years ago is now run by Edeka. Klaus Preuß describes the new look of the building complex as much more inviting.

A modern monument

For many, the department store is more than just a place to shop; it symbolizes a time in which social interaction was very important. The lettering “Kaufhalle” already adorns many walls and will be remembered nostalgically for many. The logo itself has a special history and is seen as a monument to the GDR's department stores, which were also cultural meeting places as shopping centers. MDR sheds light on the development of department stores and their role in society.

Overall, it shows that the department store in Templin Südstadt is not just a place of trade, but a piece of history that will always accompany the residents. The operators have a good knack for revitalizing the sense of community while at the same time attracting new customers to explore the newly renovated areas.