Mediamarkt, the electronics retail giant, is shutting down its Aachen location after over three decades of operation. This closure, set for November, raises concerns about increasing vacancy rates in the city center and highlights the changing landscape of retail in Aachen.
The decision to close the Mediamarkt store in Aachen came after lengthy negotiations over rental conditions in the “City Center” on Franzstrasse, as reported by the “Aachener Zeitung”. The landlord’s rental demands and the decreased commercial rents in Aachen failed to lead to an agreement, resulting in the abandonment of the location. This closure threatens to create another large vacant space in Aachen’s city center.
Mediamarkt has been a tenant in the “City Center” since 1994. The brutalist building complex, originally opened as “Grabenhof” in 1980, comprises several floors of apartments and commercial spaces. Today, the building shows signs of age, with most of its commercial spaces occupied by cheaper stores, service providers, and restaurants. According to the “Aachener Zeitung”, this is due to the decline in commercial rents in Aachen, a consequence of the city center losing its attractiveness.
Impact and future prospects
The closure affects approximately 45 employees. There are efforts to relocate as many staff as possible to surrounding stores, such as Saturn. The nearest Mediamarkt locations are in Herzogenrath, Eschweiler, and Heerlen.
Susanne Rath, Mediamarkt’s corporate spokesperson in Ingolstadt, told the “Aachener Zeitung” that the reason for the closure was the expiration of the lease and the inability to find “satisfactory conditions for both parties to continue.” Even the reduced rent at the City Center is still too expensive for Mediamarkt at this location.
Alternative locations in Aachen, such as the old Wehmeyer building on Adalbertstrasse, were not considered suitable, partly due to the proximity to Saturn, which has been located in Aquis Plaza at Kaiserplatz for years.
The departure of Mediamarkt will leave another large retail space vacant in Aachen’s city center. The future use of this space remains uncertain, with the “City Center” property management yet to comment on potential plans.
This closure represents another blow to retail and the inner city, reflecting broader challenges facing urban commercial areas and the need for adaptive strategies to maintain vibrant city centers.
