New hotel on Breite Strasse: Galeria becomes a hotspot in Cologne!

New hotel on Breite Strasse: Galeria becomes a hotspot in Cologne!

In Cologne, something is happening on Breite Straße: The owner Aroundtown has revised its renovation plans for the previous Galeria branch on house number 103 to 135. Instead of a complete new building that was originally planned, the new strategy aims at a comprehensive renovation of the existing building. The historical facades from 1911 to 1914 are preserved, which continues to underline the charm of the district. This is reported by the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger .

The new plans include partial dismantling and an increase in the building. In the future, the trading areas are limited to the ground floor and part of the first floor, while the upper floors are intended for a new hotel. Gastronomic offers and fitness areas are also planned on the fifth and sixth floor. A small courtyard and green spaces are also created, which benefits the urban climate on Breite Strasse.

The closure of the Galeria branch

The closure of the Galeria branch on August 31, which has been working at this location since 1963 and is now operating as a Galeria shopping house. This measure could offer the branch on the High Street planning security, while the city's economic director, Andree Haack, emphasizes that investments in the building are urgently necessary because extensive renovation work has been postponed again and again.

Although the closure is worrying, the Galeria chain recently emphasized that it was in constant exchange with the landlord and looking for long-term solutions. A Galeria spokeswoman informed that the rent could be significantly reduced and now only makes 8 to 9 percent of sales. These adjustments are essential to ensure the survival of the branch, which is one of the last three remaining ones in Cologne.

building preliminary inquiries and future perspectives

Aroundtown already made a preliminary building request in February 2023 to clarify the legal framework for the project. This request included partial dismantling, switching and increasing as well as the planned use for sales, accommodation, gastronomy and fitness. Interestingly, the first preliminary building request was even more radical in June 2021, as it provided for a complete demolition of the existing Karstadt building, which the city administration rejected in the course of monument protection.

With a property area of ​​more than 3000 square meters, directly opposite the popular "Globetrotter" department store, the location offers great potential for innovative usage concepts. An architecture firm from Berlin had already presented designs for a combination of hotel, apartments, offices and retail areas on the ground floor in 2022, which underlines the versatility of the project.

The city administration has now classified the new plans as permissible, and the political committees are committed to receiving a department store at this central location. This should not only be important for the immediate environment, but also for the entire shopping behavior in Cologne city center.

summarized, the width street is faced with profound changes that will bring about new opportunities and challenges. In a city that is constantly changing, Aroundtown's measures show that you have a good hand to preserve the historical substance and at the same time develop future -oriented solutions for the city center. The coming months will show which forms the changes accept and how they will affect the Cologne population.