Disappointment in Bochum: New mini decathlon opened in the Ruhr Park!

Disappointment in Bochum: New mini decathlon opened in the Ruhr Park!

Bochum, Deutschland - On April 11, 2025, Decathlon opened a new branch in the Ruhr Park in Bochum. This new opening attracted many visitors, although some customers expressed their disappointment with the comparatively small sales area of ​​only 1,000 square meters. In contrast, the larger branch in Herne has around 6,000 square meters. Many customers referred to the Bochum branch as "mini-decathlon" and criticized the limited range, which means that some prefer to go to Herne or Dortmund to find a better offer.

The new branch in Bochum offers opening hours from Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is located between the Maison's Du Monde furniture store and the Böhmer shoes shoe store. For customers who order online, Decathlon offers the possibility of Click & Collect to pick up the goods in the branch or have it delivered free of charge.

criticism and customer feedback

Despite the high number of visitors, many customers pointed out the insufficient range of assortment that the branch in Bochum offers compared to the locations only a few kilometers away. The perception of the branch as a smaller offshoot could possibly prevent some potential customers from shopping there regularly.

In more comprehensive plans for expansion, Decathlon has great goals for Germany. According to anliche.decathlon.de , the company is planning to open up to 150 branches by 2027, with an investment of over 100 million euros. The ambitious goal is that all people in Germany have access to a decathlon touchpoint within 20 minutes of travel. This expansion could also include smaller formats in shopping centers and pedestrian zones.

expansion of the branch structure

The CEO of Decathlon, Arnaud Sauret, emphasizes the creation of new jobs by this expansion step. In addition to the opening of classic multisport stores, Decathlon plans to introduce new formats such as the Decathlon Connect Stores. These should concentrate on specific sports worlds and offer products for mountain sports, mobility and everyday objects.

The next steps for decathlon in Germany include the opening of new branches in different cities. For example, the first Connect branch will be opened in Potsdam at the end of November 2024, followed by other locations in Munich and Hamburg.

In addition, a new branch in the Palais Vest in Recklinghausen is being planned, which will also have an area of ​​more than 1,000 square meters. However, the opening is delayed due to a fire in the shopping center. Here the branch is expected to be placed next to Smyths Toys.

The opening of the Bochum branch thus only marks a first step in a large-scale expansion strategy of the company, which aims to significantly increase the visibility and accessibility of decathlon locations. Derwesten.de emphasizes that Decathlon is one of the largest multisports specialists and can therefore come up with a wide range of sports.