KaDeWe

Founded in March 1907 by Adolf Jandorf, Kaufhaus des Westens (KaDeWe) is a landmark luxury department store in Berlin, Germany. Jandorf, an experienced merchant, aimed to establish a retail destination to satisfy the high consumer demands of Berlin's elite. The store quickly gained prominence, notably after a widely publicized shopping visit by King Chulalongkorn of Siam just months after its opening. Throughout its history, KaDeWe has mirrored Germany's turbulent 20th century, changing ownership multiple times. It was acquired by the Jewish-owned Hermann Tietz OHG in 1927, which later underwent 'aryanization' during the Nazi era. The building was severely damaged during World War II, with an American bomber crashing into it in 1943. Its reopening in 1950 became a symbol of West German prosperity during the post-war economic boom.

The KaDeWe Group operates as a subsidiary of the Thai Central Group, which became the sole owner in 2024 after acquiring the remaining shares from the insolvent Signa Holding. This acquisition included the iconic KaDeWe building itself, which Signa had previously owned and leased back to the operating company at rates described as disproportionately high. These rental costs were cited as the primary reason for the KaDeWe Group's filing for self-administered insolvency in January 2024, despite achieving record sales of nearly €728 million in the 2022/23 financial year. The business model is centered on high-end, in-person retail, attracting 40,000 to 50,000 visitors daily to its Berlin location. The company's revenue is generated through the direct sale of luxury goods. The group also includes the Alsterhaus in Hamburg and Oberpollinger in Munich, with plans to expand with new stores in Düsseldorf and Vienna in 2025.

KaDeWe is one of Europe's largest department stores, with over 60,000 square meters of retail space spread across multiple floors. It offers a vast selection of high-end products, including international designer fashion, luxury accessories, cosmetics, and home goods. A key feature is its renowned sixth floor, a gourmet food hall offering international delicacies, restaurants, and champagne bars. The store provides a range of premium services, such as personal shopping, a wedding and gift service, beauty lounges, and a chauffeur service. A major renovation project, led by the architectural firm OMA since 2016, is underway to modernize the shopping experience. This involves dividing the store into four distinct quadrants, each with a unique architectural identity and commercial focus to cater to different customer profiles (classic, experimental, young, and generic).

Keywords: luxury department store, Berlin retail, high-end fashion, gourmet food hall, German retail, Adolf Jandorf, Central Group, Tauentzienstraße, European department stores, luxury goods, Alsterhaus Hamburg, Oberpollinger Munich, premium services, personal shopping, architectural renovation, OMA architecture, retail real estate, luxury shopping experience, Berlin landmark, iconic stores