Esslingen in crisis: traditional shops are dying, vending machines flood the city center!

Esslingen in crisis: traditional shops are dying, vending machines flood the city center!

A worrying trend can be observed in the city center of Esslingen: vacancies and the disappearance of traditional shops are increasing. Pliensaustraße is particularly affected, where the newly opened “Asian Super Store” with only three box machines is not met with much enthusiasm. This new addition is seen by many as inadequate and questionable for revitalizing the street. This reports Stuttgart News.

The closure of classic shops contributes to the yawning emptiness in the city center. Stefan Trittler's traditional knife shop, which was run for many years, is no longer. The former owner has already pointed out the challenges that are affecting stationary retail in the region. At a time when there are fewer and fewer owner-managed businesses, this development is symptomatic for the entire city.

Decline in traditional businesses

More and more owner-managed businesses that have shaped Esslingen for years are closing their doors. Above all, rising costs, the lack of suitable successors and a decreasing number of customers are leading to difficulties in retail. The Kögel fashion house, for example, will close its doors in January 2024. The Mehl laundry shop on the market square also closed at the end of January 2023. The closure of the Rats Pharmacy, which had existed since 1986, is another example of this alarming trend Esslinger newspaper is documented.

In addition, the Papier Maier office supplies store on Rathausplatz was closed and the traditional hat store Bühler, which was in operation for over 130 years, lacked a successor after Martin Bühler's retirement and had to give up. This shows that even long-standing establishments are not immune to current market developments.

Retail Forecasts

The overall retail situation in Germany remains critical. The German Trade Association (HDE) predicts that around 4,500 stores will close by the end of 2025. This follows a decline of 5,000 stores the previous year. This dramatic development was described as alarming by HDE President Alexander von Preen, as the number of retail stores drops from over 370,000 in 2015 to an estimated 300,000 in 2025. The reasons for this are not only a clouded consumer mood, but also a lack of successors for well-performing stores. The HDE is therefore calling for adjustments to rental agreements and incentives to promote investments, such as tax breaks for digitalization and renovations, in order to keep city centers vibrant. This emerges from the current reports from the trade association here can be read.

The situation in Esslingen therefore reflects a larger trend that affects not only local but also national consumer behavior. The question remains how the city and those responsible will respond to these challenges and whether ways can be found to increase the attractiveness of retail.