Cafe administrator in Braunschweig laments: "Matter has escalated to an alarming degree"
The historic Hagenmarkt in Brunswick is undergoing a significant makeover, aimed at creating a more vibrant and inviting space. The planned changes include increased greenery, the addition of playgrounds and relaxation areas, events around the historic fountain, and modern rainwater management systems.
The city has been in constant contact with business owners, either in person or via email, to ensure they are kept informed about the ongoing changes. A key focus is enabling the use of outdoor seating areas as much as possible, as the city strives to keep the impact of construction as low as possible.
However, the construction work poses a challenge for businesses and gastronomic establishments in the immediate vicinity, including Café Schmidt. Andrea Schmidt, the owner of Café Schmidt, could not attend the city's information event due to conflicting shop hours.
In light of this, the city has implemented measures common in such situations. They are offering financial assistance or grants to affected businesses, providing marketing support or promotional campaigns to encourage customer visits despite construction, establishing clear signage and information to facilitate access, and scheduling construction phases to minimise disruption.
Whether these efforts will be enough for Andrea Schmidt remains uncertain. For the most accurate and current information on how the city is supporting Cafe Schmidt and other businesses during the Hagenmarkt redesign, we recommend consulting the official Brunswick city website or contacting the city’s economic development or business support office.
The city's ultimate goal is to make the Hagenmarkt a "new, attractive jewel for the heart of Brunswick," and they have invited all affected parties to an information event. City employees are available as contact persons for businesses with outdoor seating areas.
The city offers financial assistance and grants to small-business owners like Andrea Schmidt of Café Schmidt, who are affected by the Hagenmarkt makeover. The city also provides marketing support and promotional campaigns to help these businesses attract customers during the renovation process.
