C&A leaves Ostenhellweg: Schauspielhaus Dortmund is planning a great future!

C&A leaves Ostenhellweg: Schauspielhaus Dortmund is planning a great future!

There are signs of change in Dortmund: C&A is leaving its long-standing branch on Ostenhellweg, a step that not only affects retail but also the city's cultural landscape. The closure of the branch, which is scheduled to take place in spring 2025, is due to changing customer needs and the general market environment, as t-online.de reports.

Since October 24th, C&A has already opened its new branch on Westenhellweg, where it has moved into the former Mayersche bookstore. The move is intended to bind customers to the location and continue to offer the usual selection. But the vacancy on Ostenhellweg raises questions: residents and citizens express concern about the impact on the revitalization of the district and see the closure as a loss, as C&A was considered an important magnet for passers-by.

Theater as a possible new tenant

However, the vacancy could offer an unexpected opportunity for the Schauspielhaus Dortmund. Theater director Tobias Ehinger is particularly interested in the vacant C&A property. He sees the property as an opportunity to build a bridge to the city center and has already announced plans to expand the Junge Bühne area in the Schauspielhaus, which is planned for spring 2026. As soon as the Dortmund City Council approves it in December, this project could lead to the theater playing on Ostenhellweg from 2027, as ruhr24.de reports.

But the theater has further plans: a guest performance at the Hansa coking plant is also planned for 2026. During construction work, around 130 employees have to leave the current location on Wall, which further exacerbates the challenges of the conversion.

The importance for Dortmund

The closure of C&A on Ostenhellweg not only raises questions about retail, but also about Dortmund's cultural identity. It remains to be seen how the theater's plans will be implemented and whether the city council will set the necessary course for this development. The development will certainly have a strong impact on the city center and the lives of the residents there.

In the meantime, both the city administration and residents will keep a close eye on developments on the east and west sides of the bright path. A good hand will be required to ensure that the changes actually have a positive impact on the cityscape.