Schuhhaus Thomas closes its Munich branch on Theatinerstrasse

Schuhhaus Thomas closes its Munich branch on Theatinerstrasse

There will soon be a significant change in downtown Munich: Schuhhaus Thomas is closing its branch at Theatinerstraße 31. This decision, which was made as part of a strategic realignment of the city center presence, will be implemented at the beginning of 2026. Managing director Luca Tretter said that the space strategy aims to bundle the brand experience and concentrate on the best locations. However, there is a larger flagship store around 150 meters away at Weinstrasse 9, which remains open to customers. All employees at the Theatinerstrasse branch will continue to be employed in other Munich stores, so no one has to be laid off. In addition, a clearance sale has already started, which many customers are actively using to get bargains.

But what does this closure mean for stationary retail in Munich? According to a recent report from AlixPartners, retail in Germany shows that city centers are undergoing profound change. In recent years, the number of retail stores has fallen sharply - from 373,000 to around 302,000 since 2015. Prominent bankruptcies of large retailers such as Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof and Görtz make it clear that the challenges for stationary retailers are enormous these days. In particular, the growth rate of online retail, a shortage of skilled workers and declining purchasing power mean that many traditional stores are no longer profitable.

Challenges and opportunities for the city center

An exciting development, however, is that visitor frequency in city centers has almost reached pre-crisis levels after the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, retailers need to adapt their strategies to stay relevant. Experts emphasize that increasing productivity and opening up new sales channels are essential. Opportunities to take advantage of declines in rental prices could include opening new stores, such as pop-ups, as well as innovative in-store experiences. Mixed-use concepts that combine retail, gastronomy and culture could also enrich the shopping and experience offerings in city centers.

As the closure of the Thomas shoe store shows, adaptability and innovative strategies are crucial for the future of stationary retail. It remains to be seen how other buildings and branches in the city will develop in order to meet the demands of modern customers. The strategic realignment that the Thomas shoe house is pursuing could prove to be groundbreaking in continuing to make the brand experience a point of high appeal.

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The closure of the Thomas shoe store is not just a local event, but represents the challenges that stationary retail is facing today. Adapting to new conditions remains a central task for all market players in order to keep the city center lively and attractive.

Further information can be found at the following links: Mercury, iHeart, AlixPartners.