Retail closures reported in Braunschweig and Weimar

Several small retail businesses in Germany are facing closures due to economic pressures. In Braunschweig, the sustainable fashion retailer Jojeco has closed its second branch in the Magniviertel district. Despite previous insolvency filings and the loss of a concept store, the brand intends to maintain a presence in the city through a pop-up store located in the Ölschlägern district, which is scheduled to open on October 1.

In Weimar, the bookstore 'Die Eule' will close at the end of September 2026 after 25 years of operation. The owner, Steffen Knabe, cited rising costs—including a doubling of the minimum wage—and the inability to raise book prices at a matching rate as primary reasons for the closure. The shutdown also threatens the Knabe-Verlag publishing house, which relies on the bookstore to distribute half of its titles. Knabe noted that while reading habits are evolving, the growth of the e-book market and changing consumer behaviors have bypassed traditional retail.