Galeries Lafayette to close Berlin store

What: Galeries Lafayette announced that it will be closing its Berlin department store after 28 years in operation.

Why it is important: The decision is attributed to changing consumption habits in Germany and shifts in the retail market in Berlin.

The Berlin store, located in the Mitte district, was Galeries Lafayette's first venture outside of France and spanned four floors with over 88,000 square feet of selling space. The lease with property owner Tishman Speyer will not be renewed when it expires at the end of 2024, and the closure will result in the redundancy of 190 employees.

Galeries Lafayette is planning to open 20 stores outside of France by 2025, focusing on China, Asia, and the Middle East. The company recently unveiled a store in Shenzhen and has plans for stores in Mumbai and New Delhi. Additionally, Galeries Lafayette has existing stores in Doha, Qatar, Luxembourg, and Shanghai, with future projects in Macau and Chongqing.