Erfurt's city center: Close shops, art blooms!

Erfurt's city center: Close shops, art blooms!

in Erfurt's city center is currently happening, especially around the Anger, where several long -term businesses had to close their doors. The best known among them are the clothing store "Only" and the fashion jewelry chain "Claire’s", which have disappeared from the cityscape. This development is part of a larger trend: the Erfurt city center is under pressure, and many retailers are faced with challenges that are reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic and current crises. A study by the BBSR shows that the decline in sales and the impending vacancies significantly question the retail trade and question the future viability of the inner cities ( BBSR ).

An example of this problem is the location in Schlösserstraße 20. Here the shop "Brink", which was known for its watches and jewelry for years, moved to the cathedral square last summer. This was followed by the jewelry and watch service "Rewa Timecheck", which only existed for a few months. The organic shop "Naturkost", which opened in December 2024 and continued in February under the name "Best Ramp", also closed its doors at the end of May. These developments show that even new concepts are not immune from the fate of failure.

art in response to the challenges

In order to counteract this economic stagnation, the City management Erfurt has found a creative solution: Since June 11, 2023, the area has been used by an art project called 2.13 that plays the shop for exhibitions during the Krämerbrückenfest. This festival, which will open on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. on the Benediktsplatz, promises a colorful mix of culture and entertainment, with a theater spectacle of the Scots and appearances of local musicians ( Erfurt ).

For the little visitors there is an adventure world on Theaterplatz, while jazz lovers get their money's worth at the New Orleans Music Festival, which will take place behind the town hall. The Krämerbrückenfest will not only become a festival of music, but also a goal of wishes, hopes and feelings, symbolized by the balloons designed by artist. This creative element was made possible by a donation from the Sparkasse Mittelthüringen.

A look into the future

However, the challenges for retailers remain. Cities are faced with the task of balancing the risks of vacancies and losses in sales with the potential for subsequent use and new concepts. For this purpose, recommendations for action were developed to strengthen inner cities and centers and to secure their economic basis ( BBSR ).

With the current developments and the upcoming Krämerbrückenfest, there is hope that creative solutions and a strong community can help to revitalize the cityscape of Erfurt and create new perspectives for retail.