Bochum city center.
After more than 90 years, the North Sea is giving up its Bochum branch on the upper Kortumstraße. When we say goodbye, it gets emotional again.
It is hard to believe and yet sad truth. At the end of the year, Bochum’s city center is again one icon poorer. The North Sea branch on Kortumstraße is closing. On the last opening day, branch manager Robert Minde shows once again that he sells and prepares fish out of passion. Three freshly caught carp are on ice in the refrigerated counter. There is Breton fish soup with prawns, pollock and cod fillet and of course classics such as matjes baguette or fish cakes.
What is particularly astonishing is what even older Bochum residents hardly know: this North Sea branch has existed at this exact spot at Kortumstrasse 55 for more than 90 years. “The rental agreement dates from January 1, 1932,” says Robert Minde. “It’s sad, but the second crisis was one too many. First Corona and then the exploding energy costs.” The kitchen with its aggregates and the refrigerators gobbles up huge amounts of electricity. The costs would have doubled, “and a little more”.
The building was almost completely destroyed during the war, the firewall to the neighboring house that has been preserved still shows the remains of the former stock. But the owner never rebuilt the other floors, only the shops on the ground floor remained.
Long-time customers come to say goodbye
On the last opening day, many long-standing customers come again to say goodbye. As Robert Minde, who himself learned his trade from his mother Wittig many years ago, explains, the actor Armin Rohde is also one of the regular customers. “He placed his order for the holidays just before Christmas.” Ramazan Güven has also come and is getting something for his lunch break. He is sad that the branch is closing, although there is another one in the city center: “But that’s no comparison. I’m definitely not going to eat fish for a long time now,” he says with a wink.
In good times there were 16 employees on Kortumstraße who looked after the customers. In the summer even a small outdoor seating area lured it. At last there were seven employees. It’s a loyal band. Olaf Kasan, Minde’s assistant, has been working for Nordsee for 45 years, the buffet specialist Regina Ehrlich for 25 years and the saleswoman Dorota Grabowski for 22 years. A well-rehearsed team that is now falling apart. The customers on the last day of opening offer comfort and good words, while in the background the clearing of the shop is already being prepared.
First Corona came, then energy prices exploded
Robert Minde, who has been the branch manager for 16 years, observes the development of Bochum’s city center with concern. It was 31 years ago that he joined the “North Sea” and has remained loyal to the company to this day. The frequency has changed for about ten years now, fewer people in the shopping area. The vacancies, the frequent changes at individual, actually very good locations, would have had a very negative effect on the customers at the North Sea. Corona and now the energy crisis obviously finished the site.
Branches remain in the hub and in the Ruhrpark
The company also officially commented on the closure: “Unfortunately, we have to close the branch in Bochum at Kortumstraße 55 on December 31 due to the expiring lease and for economic reasons,” said a spokeswoman. At the same time, the North Sea headquarters refers to the two remaining Bochum branches in the Drehscheibe and in the Ruhrpark shopping center.
More articles from this category can be found here: Castrop-Rauxel
