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Traditional shop Schuhhaus Hammes in Trier closes after 130 years!
The Hammes shoe store in Trier is closing after almost 130 years. Bankruptcy and sell-off by the end of September 2025.
Traditional shop Schuhhaus Hammes in Trier closes after 130 years!
After almost 130 years in Trier, it is becoming rich in tradition Hammes shoe store close its doors. The bankruptcy was announced at the end of July 2025, and the sell-off has already begun, running until September 30, 2025. The store was founded in 1896 on Nagelstrasse as a custom shoe store and has always overcome the challenges of changing its address during the Second World War. It has been located at Fleischstrasse 33 since 1953 and has been run by Rainer and Helga Hammes in the third generation since 1975.
The closure is a sad reality as the operators were unable to find a successor. 82-year-old Rainer Hammes, who has been running the business for 50 years, has already asked his children and the employees, but no one has shown interest in taking over. This situation is not unique. According to that ZDF Finding successors is a growing problem for many companies in Germany. The chambers reported that of around 9,600 senior entrepreneurs who sought advice in 2024, only just under 4,000 were interested in potential takeovers.
Successions in the German middle class
The lack of successors could have far-reaching consequences. The DIHK warns that up to 250,000 businesses could close within the next ten years, including economically healthy companies. The reasons are varied: High bureaucracy, rising wage and energy costs as well as an uncertain economic situation make it unattractive for potential successors to take the step into self-employment. A quarter of old entrepreneurs are currently considering giving up their business because there is no successor in sight.
The gap between companies ready to hand over and those interested in taking over has almost doubled since 2019. The situation is particularly critical in the retail, hospitality and transport industries, where there are often more than three to four companies per potential successor.
What are the solutions?
Business is demanding that the federal government take action to relieve the burden. Above all, the aim is to reduce bureaucracy and support rising costs. The DIHK suggests creating a central contact point for the succession process and simplifying the approval process. Strengthening the culture of succession and better integrating entrepreneurship into the education system could also be helpful steps.
The future is therefore uncertain, not only for Schuhhaus Hammes, but for many small and medium-sized companies in Germany. The closure of a traditional business is seen as a great loss by the local community and sheds light on the challenges that many businesses in the region are currently facing.