Vacancy in Bad Pyrmont: The city center is fighting for new perspectives!

Vacancy in Bad Pyrmont: The city center is fighting for new perspectives!

In Bad Pyrmont, early summer is not only the time of flowers, but also a time of change - unfortunately often for the negative. Klaus Jürgens and his wife, who have lived in the city since 2013, are concerned about the development on Brunnenstrasse. The steady decline in business is obvious: there are 19 vacancies in this central area alone. “There is something going on,” says Jürgens about the concern that the vacancy is endangering the attractiveness of the city center.

The closures of well-known stores in recent years speak for themselves. The Engelhardt household goods store and the Maltzahn leather goods store, among others, had to go out of business in 2020. The Genuss-Lust delicatessen and the Fürsten bookstore also closed in 2024. One of the soon-to-be-closed stores is Knoop – fashion for men, which will open its doors until the end of 2023. Getting walk-ins back seems to be an increasingly difficult mission.

Causes and effects

Economic developer Stefan Stuckenberg describes the causes of the vacancies: The increase in online trading and advancing digitalization have had a severe impact on stationary retail. The lack of successors for many shops and the dilapidated condition of some long-empty shops also contribute to the fact that passers-by simply walk past many shop windows.

According to Stuckenberg, the vacancy rate in a nationwide comparison is around 20%. The situation remains tense for the city of Bad Pyrmont, as there is little that can be done about high rents. The average rents range between 9 and 12 euros per square meter. A ray of hope could be the support program that has been running since 2023, from which 15 tenants are already benefiting from rent subsidies. “It’s a small step, but at least,” says Stuckenberg.

New openings and wishes for the future

But not everything is lost! Some new openings are in the starting blocks: a dog boutique, a creative workshop and a wool shop are set to bring a breath of fresh air into the city center. Stuckenberg is optimistic: "We would like to see more shops that respond to the needs of young people, such as a textile store or local supplier. An adventure store or a vegan restaurant would also be an enrichment." The catering industry could also benefit from rent subsidies in the future, which opens up further creative possibilities.

The path to revitalizing the city center is full of challenges, but also opportunities if local entrepreneurs and offers come together and the needs of the citizens are the focus. “Let us hope that the positive approaches will soon lead to noticeable changes,” concludes Jürgens thoughtfully.

In conclusion, Bad Pyrmont still has potential - we need to take the right steps to keep the city center attractive for everyone. This is the only way to reduce vacancies and turn the many empty shop windows into lively businesses again.