In Franzburg in the county of Vorpommern-Rügen has had a supermarket again since 12 November 2026. Maximilian Hupfeld and Marius Holder took over the former store on Abtshäger Straße and reopened it. This brings an end to a gap in local provision that began after the previous shop closed suddenly in May.
The two operators are newcomers to the food retail business. They rented the building despite having no commercial experience, NDR reported on 12 November. Hupfeld told the broadcaster that larger retail chains had shown no interest in the location. The new operators are reportedly focusing on a full range of products and regional goods. The former store’s staff have been taken on.
Ostsee-Zeitung had already reported in October on plans for the new store under the “nah und frisch” brand, naming 12 November as the opening date. In addition to groceries, the report said, a delivery service for drinks and platters was also planned. It remains to be seen whether and when further services will be added: according to NDR, a post office counter and a lottery outlet are expected to follow later.
The reopening is particularly significant for Franzburg because the old store had been the town’s only supermarket. NDR reported in July that, since mid-May, residents had had to travel to neighbouring Richtenberg to do their supermarket shopping. This was especially difficult for older people and those with limited mobility.
In the meantime, local support initiatives sprang up. According to NDR’s report, a butcher expanded its range; meanwhile, Mayor Dieter Holder organised shopping assistance with volunteers. Ostsee-Zeitung also reported on volunteer shopping couriers for people who could not drive themselves. These initiatives helped bridge the period without a supermarket, but they were no substitute for a regular grocery store in the town.
The closure also affected employees. Store manager Heike Neetz told NDR that losing their jobs had come as a shock to the team. By taking on the existing staff, the new venture can draw on the experience of employees who already knew the location.
The case shows how closely accessibility and local services are connected in smaller towns: when a single store closes, many people have to go elsewhere for their everyday shopping. For people without a car, even that can become an obstacle. With the reopening, a full range of products is once again available locally. It is too early to tell whether the store will be financially sustainable in the long term or which additional services will actually be introduced.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).