Weimar has lost a valued toy store for 33 years - now it's over!

Weimar has lost a valued toy store for 33 years - now it's over!

A touch of sadness is spreading in Weimar as the toy store “Michael’s Toyland”, a popular meeting place for young and old, is closing its doors. The owner, Michael Rott, has run this shop with a lot of love for 33 years and can be proud of a loyal customer base. He and his team are offering a 40 percent off sale until the end of December to say goodbye to the last items, including family games, fidget spinners and homework books. But the reasons for the closure are anything but happy. Declines in sales during the corona pandemic and the steady increase in online trading have done the rest to cause the charming store, which has supplied many kindergartens with toys, to go out of business. In addition, five employees will lose their jobs on the last day of opening.

Despite these dark clouds, Michael Rott looks back on the past 33 years with a positive outlook. He is not the only one who has felt the challenges brought by the pandemic. A recently published report by the Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Spatial Research highlights that stationary retail is clearly suffering from the consequences of the pandemic, particularly in weaker inner-city locations. While rental prices in larger cities have fallen, other parts of the city are more stable. The dynamics in economies are influenced by a wide variety of conditions and this can also be seen in the closures of shops, some of which became unavoidable as a result of the Corona rules.

Pandemic and retail: A look at the legal framework

Stationary retail has fought for its survival, especially during the Corona pandemic. The Federal Administrative Court recently confirmed the legal basis that led to the closure of large stores with over 800 square meters of sales space during the early days of the pandemic. These measures were deemed necessary to contain the spread of the virus. Retailers had to adhere to these guidelines, which in many cases led to significant sales losses and the stores were increasingly in the red. The decision from Leipzig came after an electronics store operator took legal action against this regulation, which has now been recognized as proportionate and legal. The Saxon Higher Administrative Court confirmed that the reduced sales area was a reasonable measure to minimize crowds.

The closures of “Michael’s Toyland” and other small shops are part of a larger trend that could permanently change the retail landscape in Germany. A BBSR report highlights that the pandemic has accelerated the decline in retail space in many cities. The switch to digital commerce has also left its mark and competition in this area is becoming ever stronger. The unstoppable trend seems to be hitting small, stationary shops particularly hard.

The closure of a traditional store like “Michael’s Toyland” is a strong sign of how much the retail landscape has changed in recent years. Michael Rott, who celebrated numerous festivals and made generations of children happy with his range, will be missed in the region.