Next traditional business has to close: "You don't work so hard to end up losing everything"

Created: 01/15/2023 05:03

By: Julian Limmer

Sharp knives are her life: But Antonia Tanzer now has to close her shop in the city center.

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Munich loses another real traditional business: After 117 years, the knife shop Hans Nahr in the Ruffinihaus closes.

In the end, there were many unfortunate circumstances that heralded the end.

Munich – Shortly before the end, business is once again brilliant: Outside the shop window at the Ruffinihaus, customers are waiting in droves for the “final cut”, the sale;

inside they shine in the light of the showcases, the noble knife blades.

Chef Antonia Tanzer (65) runs her fingers over the knife handles made of pistachio, beech, juniper - many of which she helped design herself: "Most of them are unique, real handwork," she says.

In the past, even Arab sheikhs, rich Russians and well-heeled customers from other regions of the world came to her for this.

But that is over – in the end she almost only made losses.

She has to close her specialist shop "Hans Nahr" (Sendlinger Straße 1).

Another traditional shop that is disappearing from Munich!

Traditional Munich shop has to close: "You don't want to end up as a social case"

In the end, many unfortunate circumstances came together that led to the end of the 117-year-old business.

A temporary move, Corona and now the Ukraine war - too much for the entrepreneur: "You don't work so hard to end up losing everything.

That's why I have to stop," says Tanzer.

After all the years, the many hours for the shop, she doesn't want to end up as a social case.

There was a lot going on again in the Hans Nahr knife shop for the final sale.

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Almost 28 years ago, Tanzer took over the traditional Hans Nahr business, which at the time was still known for household electronics: shavers and light bulbs adorned the shop window.

As competition grew in this field, the businesswoman responded.

She specializes in a particularly sharp range - high-quality knives, which can quickly cost her from 100 to 5000 euros.

"You always have to keep an ear to the customer and the time," she says.

That worked well for a long time: business was booming, profits were bubbling up.

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The temporary move was the beginning of the end

But that changed a few years ago: Initially, customers from Arabia were scarce.

But it only got really bad when she had to move.

The city had the Ruffinihaus renovated in 2018, and all dealers were relocated.

“We were in the City Museum for 18 months.

Sales collapsed by 60 to 80 percent,” she says.

Even if the alternative quarters were only a few streets away, there were no walk-in customers.

"We just weren't found that well anymore."

When she was allowed back after the renovation and the business slowly started up again, Corona came.

"There was no help because our sales had collapsed so badly because of the move." The city did not accommodate her with the rent either.

And the good quality also became an obstacle: "Anyone who buys a knife from me will never put it down for the rest of their lives." Good for customers, bad for business.

The mountain of expenses grew, the reserves shrank.

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"At some point you just can't take it anymore," she says.

On February 4th, 2023 it will finally be over - at least in the Ruffinihaus.

She wants to continue to be there for her regular customers: visiting chefs, advising buyers and expanding the presence of her online shop (messer-exclusive.de).

"I'm staying," she says.

Just not here.