Aurich's market hall shines newly: from the demolition to the future project!

Aurich's market hall shines newly: from the demolition to the future project!

The Aurich Markthalle, a long controversial building, has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis in recent years. Originally built in 1990/91 as part of the underground car park, the hall was to serve as a regional marketing center for agricultural products and as a cultural meeting point with adjacent brewery. But the concept failed in 1996, and the construction was empty for a long time until it offered a new cultural space with almost 800 live concerts from 1999. Nevertheless, the future of the market hall remained unclear until the turn of the millennium, and various plans for further recycling met with cautious interest in the city, such as nwzonline.de reported.

The situation escalated in 2023 when politics put an ultimatum: either the market hall has to be revitalized or demolished. After a dark phase with a threatening vacancy, in which the children of the city had hoped for a new café in the hall, the project finally picked up speed in 2025. Today the market hall not only shines in new splendor, it is also celebrated as an important part of city history and shows the will of the Auricher to preserve its tradition. A bright spot is the café "Extra Latt", which becomes a central component of the new use and thus avert the impending scenario of a demolition.

a lively marketplace in the heart of Aurich

The market hall not far from the market square, one of the largest marketplaces in Northern Germany, is part of a pulsating center that attracts visitors with its charm. Surrounded by cafés, ice cream parlors and restaurants with inviting outside seats, the square is a popular meeting place for young and old. Historical buildings such as the "Knodtsche Haus", which was built in the Dutch late baroque style, give the place a special character. But the ball and steel fountain also ensure refreshment in the warm months, especially for the little guests.

A highlight of the marketplace is the "Sous Tower", a large sculpture by the artist Albert Sous, which is not only a popular photo motif, but also remains controversial in locals. At big events, such as the Aurich wine and gourmet festival or the atmospheric Christmas magic in December, the place is transformed into a happy party location that enjoys many people. The market hall is also used for the weekly market, which offers a variety of fresh foods on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays - Low German is the language of choice here.

looking for new uses

A current study by GfK GeoMarketing shows that market halls in large German cities often have to deal with functional deficits and stand in addition to the competition through supermarkets and discounters. Many of these defects can be attributed to inappropriate locations. However, the Auricher Markthalle could have the chance to drive new flowers due to the close integration into the city structure and the high passer -by frequency. Essential location factors such as visibility, good accessibility and synergies with local gastronomies play a crucial role, such as gfk-geomarketing.de emphasized.

With the transformation process of the market hall in the back, the city of Aurich is on the pulse of time and a symbol for the use of maintaining the living history of a city. In the coming years, the market hall could therefore again become a cultural center that attracts not only locals, but also visitors and presents a new concept for urban communities apart from traditional care offers.