Three village shops in Marburg facing closure – is there still hope?

Three village shops in Marburg facing closure – is there still hope?

On October 28, 2025, the Lebenspunkt gGmbH village shops in Marburg face an uncertain future. The mayor Ludwig Schneider invites you to the local advisory board meeting in Ockershausen to discuss the worrying rumors about possible closures of these important local supply points. Among the guests are the managing directors of Lebenspunkt gGmbH, Roland Wagner and Michael Kraft, as well as Alexander Nonn from Tegut.

Lebenspunkt gGmbH is a 100 percent subsidiary of the Lebenshilfewerk and has been running the district shop in Ockershausen with great enthusiasm since 2016, which is aimed at creating jobs for people with disabilities and providing local supplies. Business was initially good, but the last few years have brought significant challenges.

Economic difficulties

The economic problems are diverse. Factors such as the corona pandemic, high levels of construction activity in the area, an increased minimum wage and drastically increased energy costs have worsened the situation. A rent increase of 100% is particularly worrying. The stores record annual losses of around 20,000 euros, while the city of Marburg grants an annual subsidy of just 9,000 euros, the term of which ends in 2024. In view of these circumstances, the board of directors has decided to give up the business area, which will lead to the closure of all three stores - in Oberstadt, Michelbach and Ockershausen.

The Ortenberg branch will close at the end of 2025, while the other two stores will be affected at the end of 2026. Nevertheless, there is a glimmer of hope: discussions about the continuation of the store in Ockershausen by the citizens are scheduled to take place in June 2024. Lebenspunkt gGmbH offers to continue to provide employees and Tegut would also be willing to supply products if a new sponsor is found.

The role of the community

The challenge of maintaining the village-based shops is not only important for Lebenspunkt gGmbH. The village shop in Michelbach, which is the only shopping opportunity in the community, needs more customers in order to be able to continue to employ the local people with disabilities. The “Lädchen Michelbach” village shop festival on May 2, 2025 was a sign of the community’s commitment. In bright sunshine, after a rainy day, the organizers thanked the guests and supporters. New to the range were Michelbacher honey and a larger selection of drinks. At least 40% of employees have one or more handicaps, which underlines the company's social responsibility.

Local supply in rural areas, as supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture with the “LandVersorge” measure, often cannot be operated economically. This is not only due to the changing population structure and shopping behavior, but also to the demands of the community. Various concepts for improving local supplies are being promoted in order to secure services of general interest and increase participation. While large shopping opportunities at discounters such as Aldi, Lidl, Rewe and Edeka are very popular, adapting the concepts to local needs remains a central challenge.

The report on the impending closures of Lebenspunkt gGmbH is a wake-up call to citizens to commit themselves to the future of their local supply. Only together can we save the shops from going out of business and ensure good business for the community.

For more information about the situation and support offers, visit the website op-marburg.de, Lebensmittelpunkt.net and bmleh.de.