How five German cities are fighting to save their Galeria stores

Mayors of five Bavarian cities are appealing to the state government to help save local branches of struggling department store chain Galeria from closure, according to German press agency dpa.

A position paper from the cities of Aschaffenburg, Würzburg, Bayreuth, Memmingen and Munich states that the government must "clearly represent" the interests of the affected locations to the company. The branch on Rotkreuzplatz, a retail hub in Munich, is currently under discussion.

"The property owners are also called upon to contribute to viable solutions. The common goal must be to stabilise the existing locations and secure as many jobs as possible. This requires close communication between the state, the municipalities and the key economic players," the mayors wrote. They are asking for a "clear political initiative" from the state government.

Numerous closures in previous years

In July, German department store chain Galeria announced it would review the profitability of 33 locations nationwide, with closures a possibility. A number of department stores have already closed in Bavaria in recent years; in some places subsequent uses have been found, while in others it remains unclear what will happen to the large buildings in city centre locations.

The mayors emphasise that the Galeria branches now under review are also in central city locations. "They have been part of established retail structures for decades and have significantly shaped the development of their respective environments. Their possible closure should therefore not be seen solely as a business decision," quotes dpa.

A closure would have consequences for entire city centre areas, they said. It would "not only leave behind a large, unused property; it would also change visitor flows and could weaken the entire adjacent retail situation."

According to the city of Würzburg, a meeting between the cities and Bavaria's Ministry of Economic Affairs is scheduled for mid-September. While local conditions are unique and the effects of restructuring would vary, the mayors said the common goal of preserving these "anchors for vibrant city centres" prevails.