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Braunschweig's Kurda nursery closes after 70 years - a farewell!
With the closure of the Kurda nursery after 70 years, Braunschweig is losing a piece of tradition. New residential development planned.
Braunschweig's Kurda nursery closes after 70 years - a farewell!
The Stöckheim district in Braunschweig is losing a piece of its tradition: after almost seven decades, the Kurda nursery is closing its doors. This withdrawal is not only a loss for the family, but also a sign of change in the industry. Elke and Rainer Kurda, who took over the business from their parents in 1989, have now expressed their wish to retire. A successor who could continue the legacy has not been found. This marks the end of a family business that was a familiar point of contact for many regular customers. According to News38, there were already serious cuts last year when the cut flower department had to close due to a lack of staff.
The closure of the nursery goes hand in hand with the trend that fewer and fewer flower shops are able to survive in Germany. The reasons are, on the one hand, the changed purchasing behavior of customers and, on the other hand, unattractive working conditions. A report by Tagesschau highlights that almost 10,000 florists have given up their businesses in the last two decades. Margins in the flower industry have deteriorated as discounters such as Aldi and Lidl are trying to attract customers with cheap offers. “The calculation for bouquets is complex,” says a florist who finds it difficult to compete with the prices of discounters.
Remaining stock and vouchers
The only things left in Kurda's sales room are currently leftover stocks: fertilizer bottles, poinsettias and a few potted plants. However, anyone who has vouchers can still redeem them by writing their name and account number on the back in order to receive a refund in January. The closure is an emotional turning point for many customers, which is a long-lasting reminder of the Kurdas' family history.
The area of the former garden center is also being discussed. The city plans to convert the unused area on Rautheimer Strasse into a residential area. As regionalheute.de reports, at least 100 residential units are to be built in multi-family houses and an additional 20 in the form of single-family, semi-detached and terraced houses. City planning officer Heinz-Georg Leuer emphasizes how well the location is suitable for residential development, but does not provide any specific details about the plans that will be included in the next decisions.
The closure of the Kurda nursery may be an individual end, but it reflects a larger trend: floristry in Germany is having a hard time, and the industry continues to fight for its existence while at the same time creating new living spaces. The challenge of finding a balance between tradition and change will remain a central issue for many companies in the coming times.