02.04.2009, "Now even finer shopping at Karstadt in Berlin-Steglitz"

Berlin. April 02, 2009. Together with Top-Model Eva Padberg, Berlin's Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit opened this morning at 09.00 o'clock sharp the new Karstadt house in Berlin, the latest department store of the capital. With a ribbon-cutting ceremony, they jointly inaugurated the new house. Shortly after, some hundred customers crowded in the new department store. As a welcome gift, they got a glass of Champaign and a piece of cake - the first guests from the Governing Mayor himself.  


"That's what our customers waited for the past two years. We are glad to open our new house: a modern marketplace with a new store design, a high degree of brand presence and a new overall appearance," said Volker Pesarese, branch manager of Karstadt Berlin-Steglitz at the opening press conference. "Now, shopping is even finer in Berlin - at Karstadt Schlossstrasse". 

Also Berlin's Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit was enthusiastic: "The commitment of Karstadt in our city is really creditable. Not just the cosmopolitan KeDeWe attracts customers from all over the world. Also the other Karstadt stores offer something for everyone - as traditionally classic or very hip fashion. We in Berlin are proud of our fancy department stores and of the fact that we now, with the new one in Steglitz, have the most state-of-the-art department store in Germany.", said Wowereit.

"We now orient our product-range structure even more to customer desires. Consistent Category Management ought to make shopping as convenient as possible. We want to strengthen our leading market position and even extend it", said Volker Pesarese.

The commitment of Karstadt in the capital makes a big contribution to the acceptation of the megacity as a leading international shopping metropolis. Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH is not just a significant employer, but also an important part of the economic life in Berlin. Every day, about 150.000 customers visit the seven department stores and experience "Finer shopping in the city".

The shopping quarters "Boulevard Berlin" in Schlossstrasse will be completed by end of 2011 with a total retail floor space of around 64.000 m² and 1.200 parking places. Schlossstrasse is he second most important shopping mile in cosmopolitan city Berlin after Kurfuerstendamm.

The shopping centre in the southwest of Berlin is favourably located. Citizens of Steglitz and bordering districts love to come here, but also people from nearby rural district Potsdam-Mittelmark or Potsdam as much as international visitors of Berlin enjoy shopping in Schlossstrasse. That's why Volker Pesarese is positive about increasing the customer frequency in the new store". The Karstadt branch manager anticipates around 20.000 customers each day and focuses on further increasing attendance for the future.

Media contacts:
Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH
Corporate communications
Michael Scheibe / Christian Treinies
Tel: 0201/727-2124 / 0201/727-8008
Mail: michael.scheibe@karstadt.de  christian.treinies@arcandor.com