Greifswald: Does the city center transform itself to the ghost town?

Greifswald: Does the city center transform itself to the ghost town?

Greifswald, Deutschland - In Greifswald, a gradual change is noticeable, because the city center increasingly loses substance and is becoming increasingly born. As moin.de , three shops have closed their doors in the past few weeks. The wine dealer Pallhuber, who had tried to offer exclusive wines for three years, pulled the plug in mid -June. Sales manager Jens Grunwald is disappointed with the lack of customer influx and lack of personnel, which has driven the closings.

The patisserie "Torten flowering", which was only launched at the end of 2023, had to close because the demand failed to fail and the costs increased. The crystal shop "Ocean Crystals" is part of this sad list. The growing vacancy in Greifswald leads to a growing despair among the citizens who are increasingly perceiving the city center as a "ghost city". A look at online comments brings the problems openly: High parking fees and a lack of quality of stay mean that many people prefer to go shopping somewhere else, where parking appears cheaper and the visit appears more worthwhile.

The shopping is a nationwide problem

The situation in Greifswald is not isolated. The trade association Germany (HDE) is alarm and forecast the loss of 9,000 business nationwide for 2023, as reported to Welt.de If the purchasing power falls and the costs rise, it becomes more and more difficult for many shopkeepers. Currently around 311,000 shops are still in Germany, a decline of almost 62,000 compared to 2015.

Especially small specialist dealers, such as fashion boutiques and shoe stores, come under pressure. The fact that high rental costs kill many business on their knees is a central point. As FOCUS.de should give up a total of around 46,000 retailers by 2024. This scenario leads to increased vacancies, which in turn endanger the attractiveness of the inner cities and trigger a downward spiral.

Way out of the crisis?

The demands to revive the city centers are numerous. The HDE is committed to strengthening the “purchase local” thought to encourage citizens to buy citizens from local retailers. The creation of multifunctional places that combine purchasing and services are also on the agenda. A conversion of shop areas into living space could help increase the city dormitory.

"We need quick and unbureaucratic approval processes for conversions," the HDE demands. Settlement managers in the municipalities could play a key role to quickly close the gaps in the city centers. Otherwise there is a threat of a chain reaction of vacancies that could not only endanger business, but also the quality of life in the cities.

Whether Greifswald and other cities can create the turning point depends on a combination of innovative ideas and political support. One thing is clear: the challenges are great and it needs creative thinking and quick action to make the city centers fit for the future.