German cities' retail scene: Braunschweig malls and Bochum shop vacancies

In Braunschweig the Schloss‑Arkaden shopping centre, opened in 2007, houses about 150 stores ranging from fashion to electronics and draws shoppers from a 38‑km radius. The city also operates a network of weekly markets – ten locations with 20‑30 stalls each, the largest at Westfalenplatz – that focus on regional fresh produce and have been a fixture for over 50 years.

Bochum’s inner city, with roughly 900 retail units covering 135,000 m², currently has 55‑60 vacant storefronts, a vacancy rate of 6‑7 %. City‑manager Jürgen Knoth notes the figure has stabilised after higher levels in 2020‑21. The state of North Rhine‑Westphalia allocated €1.8 million in rent‑subsidy aid to the city, part of a €100 million programme aimed at preventing further closures and supporting new tenancy agreements.