Erfurt in change: Closing traditional shops, art conquers the city center!

Erfurt in change: Closing traditional shops, art conquers the city center!

in the city center of Erfurt, especially around the Anger, the signs are on change. As Thueringen24 have reported several long-term shops, including the clothes store "ONLY" and the fashion slack chain "Claire’s", Surprisingly, their doors are closed. These developments raise questions about the future of retail in this popular shopping area.

First of all, a look at the closed shops: The former shop "Brink" moved to a larger area on the cathedral square last year. Soon afterwards, the jewelry and watch service "Rewa Timecheck" took over the premises at Schlösserstrasse 20, but only had to close a few months later. In December 2024, the Erfurt wholesaler opened natural food at this point. But even his successor, the "best ramp" shop, did not last long. After a final sale in mid -May 2025, the shop closed its doors. This fluctuation in the business landscape throws a light on the challenges with which retailers are faced.

empty sales areas and new initiatives

The shop area is now only available for the intermediate rent. From June 11, 2023, the rooms were used for an art exhibition that discussed the historic Krämerbrückenfest. This initiative, launched by Krämerbrückenfest , creates a creative space, while the City management Erfurt continues to look for a fixed subsequent tenant. The increased number of vacancies in the city center prepares many citizens: after all, 45 % reported their discomfort about the increasing vacuum in the business roads in a survey.

The Krämerbrückenfest itself recently closed its doors and found its next big festival from June 19 to 21, 2026. In addition to music, theater and handicrafts, this old town festival also offers regional cuisine and transforms the Erfurt old town into a festive mile full of joie de vivre. The events attract audiences from near and far, which once more underlines the importance of such events for the local economy and city life.

Citizens' participation for a lively downtown

A project for the future of the Erfurt city center, initiated by the city of Erfurt, aims to actively involve the citizens: actively involved in the development process. Supported by the Institute for Applied Marketing and Communication Research (IMK), over 2,000 participants have already brought suggestions and wishes. 63 % of the respondents said to visit the city center, while at the same time pointing out problems such as cleanliness and social conflicts. The aim is to react more positively to the challenges with a catalog of measures that includes security concepts, mobility and quality of stay.

In this context, the citizens have the desire for more "green" and "blue" inside, that is, for more trees, flowers and access to water. The city administration is working on communication with the residents: to improve inside and promote participatory projects, so that Erfurt will continue to be a lively attraction in the future.

The challenges in the city center are clear, but the creative approaches and active citizen participation offer reason to hope. The coming years could be crucial for how Erfurt will develop in the near future and whether it will be possible to revitalize the city center as an attractive place for both residents: inside and visitors.