After 58 years: Schmid butcher shop in Dormitz is closing forever!

After 58 years: Schmid butcher shop in Dormitz is closing forever!

After almost 60 years in the heart of Dormitz, the Schmid butcher's shop is about to close for good. On September 13, 2025, the family business, run by Alfons and Daniel Schmid, will close its doors forever. In an emotional public statement, the operators thank their loyal customers for their years of support, while the reasons for the closure remain unclear. The Google rating of 4.8 stars, based on 28 reviews, also speaks for the high quality of the products and the excellent service that the butcher shop offered until the end In Franconia reported.

But the closure of the Schmid butcher's shop is not an isolated case. In recent years there have been increasing reports of companies having to close due to economic challenges. The operating period of the Stefan Skolik butcher's shop in Nuremberg also ended on April 30th, as did the Erk butcher's shop in Rimpar, which had to say goodbye to its customers for reasons of age after more than 70 years. The reasons are varied: changing customer behavior, high competition from supermarkets and discounters, a shortage of skilled workers and rising costs of living are putting a lot of strain on butcher shops Frankfurter Rundschau.

A worrying trend

The butchery industry is also under pressure nationwide. According to the 2024 yearbook of the German Butchers Association, the number of master craftsmen in Germany has almost halved since 2002. There are currently around 10,000 butcher shops in the country, while in Bavaria there are relatively many with around 30 businesses per 100,000 inhabitants. In other federal states, such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there are hardly 15 companies per 100,000 inhabitants Deutschlandfunk.

The changing consumer behavior is clear: more and more people are turning to vegetarian and vegan alternatives or deciding to buy their meat in the supermarket. The number of trainees in the butcher trade has also fallen alarmingly: in 2023 there were only around 2,300 trainees, which corresponds to a decline of almost 5% compared to the previous year.

Nostalgia meets new challenges

The closure of these traditional butcher shops is causing sadness and sadness among customers. In Uffenheim, for example, Rudolf Strenzel's butcher shop, which had been in operation since 1958, closed. Many customers share nostalgic memories on social media, while Strenzel continues to offer catering services for celebrations and celebrations. A poem from 1960 written by a customer about the butcher shop demonstrates the deep emotional connection that people have with these businesses Frankfurter Rundschau.

In order to survive in these difficult times, butcher shops are looking for innovative approaches. Reduced opening hours, delivery services and even the introduction of meat vending machines are some of the ideas being implemented to promote the personalized shopping experience. Despite the crisis situation, Reinhard von Stoutz from the German Butchers' Association says that there is no reason to worry about the butcher shops finally selling out as long as they do not lose direct contact with their customers.

The Schmid butcher's shop will be open to customers until mid-September. Anyone who would like to take advantage of the opportunity to purchase unique meat and sausage products now has the chance to become part of a small but valued chapter in the history of Dormitz.