Bern: Transa takes over the market hall
In the fall of 2019, outdoor retailer Transa Backpacking will open a branch in Bern's Markthalle, the company says.
On a total area of 3,500 sqm, a branch with a full range of products as well as cooperations with three to four partners will be established, Transa Backpacking informs. The company currently operates a location at Aarbergergasse 21 in Bern, which is to be retained for the time being. It had been looking for a larger, attractive location in Bern for some time, says Daniel Humbel, CEO of Transa. The company operates branches in Zurich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne, St. Gallen and Winterthur, as well as two outlets.
The landlord, Markthalle Cityhof Bern AG, is quoted in the announcement as saying that it was a "matter of the heart" to bring Transa to this location. Therefore, they did not choose the most financially attractive option, but the most sustainable one for the city of Bern.
The electronics chain Media-Markt currently has a lease in the market hall, but in 2016 the company decided to give up the location, although the lease still runs until 2024. In the meantime, Migros Aare wanted to take over the market hall. In February 2017, the major retailer had presented its plans for the redesign: The space was to be used for "creative gastronomy concepts," and artisanal businesses such as a brewery and a bakery were also planned. In May of this year, however, Migros abandoned the plans. The reason for the withdrawal was, among other things, "irreconcilable differences" in the planned takeover of the lease from Media-Markt, the cooperative announced at the time. (ah)
