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Erfurt's inner city scene is changing: shops are closing, art is blooming!
In Erfurt, traditional retail is closing on Anger and art projects are setting new accents. Current developments and travel information.
Erfurt's inner city scene is changing: shops are closing, art is blooming!
In Erfurt, worrying news is currently coming from the city center, where several long-standing businesses are having to close. The loss is particularly noticeable on the Anger, the heart of the city. The popular clothing store “Only” has finally closed its doors, as has the costume jewelry chain “Claire’s”. These developments are part of a larger shift impacting retail in the region and could lead to a rethink of brick-and-mortar retail. Loud Thuringia24 Those responsible for the Erfurt city management are still looking for new tenants for the vacant space.
Schlösserstraße 20 is another point affected by the closures. There has recently been a change in business owners. The former “Brink” store moved to a larger area on Domplatz last year, while the jewelry and watch service “Rewa TimeCheck” took over the business. After just a few months it also had to close. In December 2024, the new organic store Naturkost found its way into the space as a tenant. But this too was short-lived – after being renamed “Besterampe”, the store closed at the end of May 2025.
Artistic interim solution on the old town area
Since June 11, 2023, the retail space has been used for an art project that will be presented as part of the Krämerbrückenfest. The art project called 2.13 has rented the space and offers a fascinating exhibition that attracts visitors. At the same time, the question remains: What happens next in the city center? These developments cast a shadow over the supposedly thriving retail landscape, which has been clouded by the current economic situation. In its latest information series, the Federal Statistical Office states that sales in stationary retail during the pandemic have been strongly linked to the number of passers-by in city centers. A trend that must also be taken into account in the future, because smaller shops in particular are fighting for their survival, which largely depends on frequency destatis.de.
In the midst of these changes, Erfurt is preparing for one of the most popular events: the Krämerbrückenfest. The festival not only brings visitors to the city, but also creates a huge rush for shops. To make your journey easier, the organizers recommend numerous free park-and-ride areas. You can easily get there by tram, with various lines going to the stops around the Anger. In particular, EVAG's expanded offers, which offer additional trips until June 15, could ease the rush to the city center erfurt-kraemerbrueckenfest.de.
Erfurt's city center is facing a change that could bring both challenges and new opportunities. The proximity to the Krämerbrückenfest could revitalize local retail, but here too it will be important that the city and the city management find quick and effective solutions to preserve the city's established traditions and culinary and cultural wealth.