Schwerin in the restaurant and shopping test: Where is the diversity?

Schwerin in the restaurant and shopping test: Where is the diversity?

Schwerin, the picturesque state capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, has established itself not only as a cultural center, but also as an important location for restaurants and retail. A recent online survey examined citizens' satisfaction with the city's offerings. Loud Northern Courier Retail has a solid score of 7.02 on the scale of 1 to 10, which compares favorably to other cities. For example, Rostock leads with 7.32, while Uckermark comes in third with 6.08.

However, as is already apparent, the catering industry is not quite as popular. Here Schwerin achieved a value of 5.8, while Rostock remains the best-placed city with 6.2. What is striking are the strong differences within the city, which are reflected in the ratings of the individual districts. Retail in Lankow is rated at 7.84, while citizens in Wickendorf only give a disappointing value of 4.66. When it comes to gastronomy, Schelfwerder receives the highest rating (7.07), while Ostorf remains far behind with only 4.13.

Need for improvements

The survey also revealed numerous wishes and criticisms from citizens. Districts such as Wüstmark and Krebsförden in particular suffer from inadequate dining options, especially on weekends. In Neu Zippendorf they would like to see a revival of the catering industry, and Mueßer Holz calls for a fairer offering between the city center and the outskirts. The inconsistent distribution of shopping opportunities is also a recurring theme - in Weststadt, for example, people would like more variety.

The situation for restaurants and retailers is particularly tense in the context of the current pandemic. Many restaurants and hotels in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have been closed since November 1st, 2020, and retail also largely had to close from December 16th, with exceptions for essential businesses. Schwerin local reported numerous protests in which around 200 participants from the catering and retail sectors drew attention to the stricter measures.

Cultural highlights and historical roots

Schwerin's old town, on the other hand, offers romantic squares, such as the Schlachtermarkt, and historic alleys, an ambience that not only attracts tourists, but also a variety of cultural events. The architecture, characterized by different styles, is home to the impressive Schwerin Castle, one of the most beautiful historicist buildings in Europe, as well as the medieval cathedral. Concerts, readings and the castle festival, which offer outstanding opera performances, take place here regularly.

The survey and the feedback from citizens reflect a clear message: Schwerin has a lot of potential that should be realized not only in retail, but also in gastronomy and a fair distribution of offers. The next survey results on health care and the needs of seniors could provide additional information on how the quality of life can be further improved. Information about this is available on the city's website, which constantly addresses the concerns of its citizens and takes these into account in its actions - important for the future of a livable city like Schwerin.