Mackensen's bookstore will shut down by the end of April.
In a tough turn of events, a veteran bookstore owner is saying farewell, driven by an astronomical rent hike from the property owner of the building that's been the store's home for decades. The long-standing existence of this beloved business is now hanging by a thread, along with plans for passing on the torch to a new owner.
Kozinowski, nearing retirement age, is regretfully yielding to this situation, retiring himself, and relinquishing his position on the board of the IG Friedrich-Ebert-Straße. He's already delegated the maintenance of media subscriptions, the backbone of the business, to a collaborator.
Kozinowski expressed his sentiments, "It's with a heavy heart that I must retire and shut down my bookstore. My wife and I often pondered over this decision, but I wanted to hold on to my bookstore and my position on the board of the IG Friedrich-Ebert-Straße, a role I assumed with great passion, hoping to find a successor. This isn't an option anymore."
He pledges to use all his resources to help his dedicated employees find new work. Fortunately, he successfully transferred the financial lifeline of their business, the maintenance of media subscriptions, to a reputable partner.
Kozinowski took over this traditional business, tracing its roots back to 1946, in 1990. Since 2017, it has been bestowed the German Book Trade Prize an impressive five times. The store initially opened its doors on June 1, 1946, at Neumarktstraße 38, before moving to Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 10 in 1953, and then later to Laurentiusplatz.
On April 26, Kozinowski intends to bid adieu to customers, business associates, and neighbors at a festival. Prior to that, he intends to do everything in his power to offer his long-serving employees a helping hand in finding new employment.
While there's no concrete confirmation regarding a specific bookstore on Friedrich-Ebert-Straße and its struggles due to a rent increase, urban commentary indicates that central locations—such as those around significant streets like Friedrich-Ebert-Straße—can face pressure from rising rents, urban development, and retail economy shifts, often forcing long-standing small businesses to adapt or consider closure.
In light of the steep rent increase, Kozinowski, the proprietor of a small-business bookstore, laments that he will have to close his business, which has been providing finance for its employees and serving the community since 1946. Due to the financial strain, he will be focusing on using his resources to assist his dedicated employees in finding employment within the finance sector, as the maintenance of media subscriptions, the backbone of his small-business, has been transferred to a reliable partner.
