Steel production in Lankwitz concludes after 104 years of operation.
Window Shopping in Berlin-Lankwitz: A Farewell to Hardware Institution, Sommermeyer
By Sabine Klier
After 104 years, the Berlin-Lankwitz hardware store Sommermeyer is shutting its doors. Reinhold Habel (65), the owner, can't seem to find a worthy successor. Forty-nine years ago, the young Habel started his apprenticeship in this very store.
Adieu to the Hardware Guru! The hardware expert has an instinctive grasp of every nail, screw, pickaxe, birdhouse, key, wire, or canning jar lid. With the internet generation largely oblivious to many of these items, the store houses an array of treasures—from waste bins to cylinder pins—even including the rare sickle lock.
"In the past, we used to attend to customers at the three sales counters," Habel reminisces. For the past four years, he's been a one-man crew. The clientele rings the doorbell and waits behind a chain as Habel darts off to the basement. "Here, if you're looking for something specific, you're sure to find it," asserts Kathrin, a neighboring church's employee. She needs two old key replacements for a church door lock from the 1920s, and Habel, with his encyclopedic knowledge, delivers.
Digging for Deals
The last inventory was taken 12 years ago, listing approximately 50,000 items. "In the past, I'd spend January to March sorting through every item," laughs Reinhold.
The store's inventory boasts a wealth of hidden gems, but the auction regulations have left Habel stumped. He intends to sell off his collection at reduced prices upon request, rather than organizing a clearance sale.
What awaits Habel post-retirement? "Sleeping in, swimming before breakfast, and spending time with my wife," he says. They met while dancing 25 years ago, but Habel's duties as a store owner left little room for dance floors. They tied the knot four years ago, and Habel hopes to take dance classes with his wife again.
Shopping Experience in Berlin
While this iconic hardware store must bid its farewell, the shopping scene in Berlin remains vibrant. Notable spots include the Winterfeldt Markt, offering a wide array of goods, as well as Berlin's extensive specialty shops and boutiques[1]. If you're after hardware-related experiences, there's the Adolescence Paint Shopping Scene[3].
[1] Specialty Shops in Berlin
[2] Winterfeldt Markt
[3] Berlin Shopping
[4] Berlin Hardware Scene
*The store's inventory, a treasure trove of hardware items, boasts a wealth of hidden gems, offering an excellent opportunity for home-and-garden enthusiasts or lifestyle enthusiasts who might be interested in shopping for unique, vintage items.* Post-retirement, Reinhold Habel plans to explore new interests outside of hardware, such as taking dance classes with his wife and enjoying a more leisurely lifestyle, but Berlin's shopping scene, particularly its specialty shops and markets like the Winterfeldt Markt, ensures there will be plenty of options for shoppers interested in a wide variety of goods.
