"War Kult": Kaufhof am Stachus is finally closing - rumors about prominent successors

Created: 05/26/2022, 04:53

By: Nina Bautz

Closing sale in the Kaufhof am Stachus - the traditional store is closing.

©Oliver Bodmer

When department stores close, that is once again a sign of the dominance of online retail.

Now one of the big traditional houses in the city has to finally give way.

Munich - "We are closing this branch!", "Everything reduced!": Colorful posters on the front doors of the Kaufhof am Stachus announce the final end for the department store.

It is the end of a 70-year era that comes to an end after a long struggle.

This branch, which, like the other Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof stores, belongs to the Signa Holding of the Austrian billionaire René Benko, was supposed to close two years ago.

At that time there was a rescue at the last minute - after tough discussions, even Mayor Dieter Reiter had turned on.

The main owner of the building, Michael Zechbauer, is said to have given up a large part of the rental income in order to make the agreement possible.

But now, as planned, the traditional house is over.

According to Zechbauer, the lease runs until the end of September.

Kaufhof will probably close its doors to its customers earlier.

The Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof group had not yet answered an inquiry.

Verdi Munich was able to provide for all employees

"We are happy that the extension worked out," says Dominik Datz, retail representative at Verdi Munich.

In 2020, the union fought for the around 300 employees at the time.

"The plan worked: In the two years, all employees could be accommodated." Some have taken care of new jobs themselves, the other part will find accommodation in other Kaufhof branches in the future.

And how will the magnificent property in a prime location continue from autumn?

"It is still unclear what will happen afterwards," says owner Michael Zechbauer.

He not only owns the block, but also rents the retail space on the first basement floor.

"It is likely that the entire building will be restructured." Could mean that several tenants will move in there in the future.

Zechbauer does not want to say anything about possible names.

There was speculation about Ikea and Zara, among other things, but both denied this on request.

Apple is also in the conversation, the company does not comment on the rumors.

So the guesswork continues for now.

Munich residents are sad about the end of the Kaufhof

The regular customers of the Kaufhof am Stachus are sad about the end.

Wolfgang Fischer from the Citypartner association of inner-city dealers also says: “The department store was a cult and supplied generations of customers.

The ending is a pity.”

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And the shop deaths in the city center continue.

New Yorker and Esprit recently closed, and H&M wants to take over the space.

But Fischer is confident, at least with regard to the department stores: “In metropolises like Munich, department stores in the city center will continue to be an important magnet.

And after all, there are still three in Munich with Karstadt at the train station, Kaufhof at Marienplatz and Oberpollinger.”