Shooting stars market: traders complain: "It's not worth it for us"

Let us be happy and cheerful, ”it sounds in the afternoon at the Wiesbaden shooting star market, but the real Christmas atmosphere is only partially created for many retailers.

Ruppert Kimberger is one of them, he's not happy.

The entrepreneur runs two stalls at the Christmas market and after a little over two weeks draws the sober conclusion: "It's not worth it for us."

Kimbergers employees make only 30 percent of sales compared to the Wiesbaden market two years ago.

Like many other dealers, they fare in the publicly accessible area for handicrafts and other Christmas goods.

"It's bad, but we have to go through it now," says Kimberger from behind his corona mask and hopes that sales will pick up a little in the coming days.

Dividing the market in two is considered a disadvantage

The shooting stars market is divided into two parts due to the Corona requirements. In the outer sector, visitors must wear a mask. There are stalls with wooden angels, glass art, Christmas tree decorations and all the other things that passers-by and visitors usually buy before the festive season. The gastronomy in front of and next to the market church is separated by a fence; Only those who have been vaccinated or recovered and also wear a mask can get in there. This is checked by a friendly but consistent security company: In this year's Advent you need identification papers to be able to visit a Christmas market.

What is unpleasant for the visitors means a considerable disadvantage for the handicraft dealers, because the gastronomy with its bratwurst and mulled wine stands is the "frequency generator" for the markets.

Because the visitors do not gather in good company at a stand with pottery.

“Many say it's no longer fun,” say Andrea Klein and Cornelia Bechtel, who sell cribs and other accessories.

The two saleswomen name the reason: "We are missing the food stalls, and there is less program on the stage in front of the town hall."

"When the signs came, it was our death sentence"

Jacqueline Schneider puts her hands on her hips, looks at the facade of the Hessian state parliament and takes a deep breath.

Then she says: “It's very difficult.” With one arm she points to the fish stand, where a large sign draws attention to the fact that it is not allowed to eat at the stand.

"When the signs came, it was our death sentence," says the woman, who comes from a well-known Wiesbaden showman family.

“Nobody here buys hot fried fish when they have to take them with them,” she describes the situation and says that she makes 70 percent less sales at the fish stand.

Your family has three stands on the market, and the Schneiders have to cope with a drop in sales of around 50 percent on average - while costs have actually increased.

The fact that the children's market was relocated to Luisenplatz is also bothering her, because many families would no longer come in front of the town hall.

"The children belong here - and we need the parents", she clarifies and adds: "The mood is bad, many people are very reserved."

You hear the same complaints almost everywhere.

"I've made 50 euros in sales since this morning," says Marina, who sells her goods in the covered stand directly at the entrance to the market on Markstrasse.

"We have been here for years and always in the same place," she says.

You can tell a little about her resignation: “The weekend was also bad, we don't make any sales,” is her preliminary balance sheet.

Senta Thomas is right on the corner of the Dern'schen site and actually thinks her place, which she was given for the first time this year, is very good.

She sells ceramics and hopes that things will go better after all.

You are worried that the market could unexpectedly be closed.

She reports that this was a burden even while the stand was being set up.

Behind the scenes, other traders are saying they hope the shooting star market will close.

"If it is closed, that would be a break for us," says a feeder who does not want to read his name in the newspaper, because the city will allocate the coveted stands again next year.

But even in the 2-G section, the mood is hardly any better that day. The Puffer-Christl is a Wiesbaden institution. Steven Simon is standing in the car at the stove, turning potato pancakes. “There are people who only come here because of us,” he says. "But the mask requirement is extremely bad for us and is also reflected in sales." He does not currently have exact figures, but he clearly noticed the reluctance of customers. “It doesn't get lost here in the small space either, and that means we don't have walk-in customers,” Simon complains about the tightness in the 2-G section.

Two colleagues are standing next to him and nod in confirmation.

Now the city has also limited the maximum number of guests in the 2-G section.

Only 1500 visitors are allowed in the sector, as a spokesman for the state capital confirmed on request.

It doesn't make it any easier for dealers.