Bern: Media Markt closes stores
The electronics discounter Media Markt plans to close its stores in the Bern market hall and in the Shoppyland in Schönbühl.
According to a report by the Handelszeitung Media Markt is taking account of the shift to online business by reducing its network of specialist stores. However, a final decision will only be made after employees have expressed their views on the closures as part of the statutory consultation process.
Until May 2013, Bern's market hall on Bubenbergplatz was a gastro hall with eleven restaurants. But this use was never profitable, the owners claimed in 2013, and gave notice to all tenants. The hall was then renovated, and Media Markt finally moved in as a tenant in March 2015.
Like 20 minutes writes, Migros is interested in taking over the market hall as general tenant and resurrecting it in its original form. "We would deliberately remain in the background and make the hall available to other providers," media spokesman Reto Wüthrich tells the newspaper. Accordingly, no own formats such as a Migros supermarket, -take away or specialty markets would be planned. Instead, smaller gastronomy businesses and pop-up stores are to be located in the hall. Migros was already interested in taking over the market hall before Media-Markt moved in. (ah)
