New outlet store in Schweinfurt: Hope despite the shops dying!

New outlet store in Schweinfurt: Hope despite the shops dying!

Something is happening in retail in Schweinfurt! On Friday, November 7th, 2025, a new brand outlet store opened its doors on Zehntstrasse. Despite the current retail difficulties in the city, where many shops have been closing for years, retail operator Stefan Neumann is setting an example with his new opening. He already runs three clothing stores and has been active in Schweinfurt for nine years. The new store offers a range of pre-season items as well as fresh clothing, including t-shirts and jeans - all at outlet prices.

The situation is still tense. Many shops have closed, and the Stadtgalerie in particular is struggling with 40 of its 90 shops being vacant. Another downtown store will close in December, adding to concerns about future retail development. However, Neumann approaches the matter optimistically. His outlet store will initially be operated in a test phase. If demand is right, the test phase could be extended until Christmas. Neumann already has more ideas for the future in his drawer.

Shopping behavior and trends in retail

Retail in Germany, which includes Schweinfurt, is under pressure given the economic situation. According to Statista, retail recently generated around 649.9 billion euros in sales, with food retail being the largest submarket. Sales have experienced some jumps in recent years, especially during and after the coronavirus pandemic, which put many businesses in distress. Many retailers had to close; Some big brands have disappeared from the market.

There is currently a structural consolidation process in which smaller companies are increasingly being withdrawn from the market. A look at the statistics shows that the market share of online retail is continuously increasing and now amounts to around 6.5 percent. The trend towards online purchases has not made things easy for stationary providers, meaning that retail space has remained relatively constant in recent years. Food retailers in particular, which often compete with discounters such as Lidl and Aldi, have recorded above-average growth.

The hope for change

With his new outlet store, Stefan Neumann is also pursuing the vision of making Schweinfurt retail more attractive for citizens and attracting tourists. So there's a lot of steam in the city - the next few weeks will show whether his business is well received in the test phase. The concept is definitely far-sighted: its goal is not just to offer people bargains, but to create a shopping experience that is also enjoyable. The opening times this month are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - a visit could be well worth it.

Overall, it remains to be seen whether the new outlet store can survive in the current economic situation. With its opening, Neumann has taken a first step towards meeting the challenges of retail. We can only hope that he and his colleagues can prove their good hand and revitalize Schweinfurt's retail sector. That would certainly be a reason to be happy for the city and its citizens!