The escalators are standing.

At least some.

The Galeria at the Hauptwache turned it off to save energy.

For cost reasons, the chain of lights on Berger Strasse, which boasts a length of two kilometers and is the longest in Frankfurt, will remain in the basement for the first time in years.

And on the canopy of the My Zeil shopping center the deer is missing, which in previous years always made a dynamic leap into the exciting roof architecture.

Only the two deer are still there and, left alone, look around anxiously, as if they didn't trust the stability of the roof.

Petra Kirchhoff

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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Before the first Saturday in Advent, many a Frankfurt retailer looks to the next few weeks in a similarly tense manner, in which they usually make a large part of their annual sales and invest money for weaker times.

But it doesn't look like that this year.

Inflation, war and energy prices curb the mood to buy.

In its forecast for the months of November and December, the Hesse Trade Association, as reported, even assumes a price-adjusted drop in sales of 4.5 percent compared to the previous year.

Fashion retailers in particular are feeling the reluctance to buy.

Kevin Nemati, boutique owner on Berger Strasse, speaks of the “worst autumn/winter quarter” he has experienced as a fashion retailer in around 30 years.

"During Corona I felt better," says the chairman of the Untere Berger Straße trade association.

"I'll think about it again" is a sentence that he and his employees hear frequently at the moment.

Or: "I don't have much time right now, I'll come back later." In order to get rid of goods, Nemati also takes part in the discount battle for what is known as Black Friday, but 20 percent is not enough for many customers, as he says.

He's still trying to keep his spirits up.

"We fight."

Christmas market right in front of the shop door

Thomas Lehr, who runs two perfumeries in Frankfurt, is also concerned about the future.

“The next few weeks are crucial for the war.

If there are no sales, the return is at risk.” Frankfurt city center is still suffering from the fact that many are working from home, there are still no tourists and the trade fair guests are not yet back in sufficient numbers, the businessman notes.

He himself can rely on his older regular customers.

In principle, however, the number of visitors to the shopping streets has been falling since the summer holidays.

From this point of view, the jewelry boutique Moseler and Reichert, named after the two owners, is lucky.

The shop is on the Römerberg, has the Christmas market and customers right in front of the shop door.

"We are in the best of spirits," says goldsmith Kristine Reichert.

You would have good, loyal customers.

In addition, many tourists are again out and about in the old town, including Asian groups.

Dealers who sell Christmas cards, sheets of paper and the usual Advent trinkets are also relatively busy.

"The last few days have been crisp," says Cordula Fanger, owner of the specialist shop Schmidt's Papeterie on Schweizer Strasse in Sachsenhausen.

Your business benefits from an environment and a clientele that doesn't necessarily have to look at the euro, says Fanger.

"I am relaxed."

For Christian Völker, who has been managing director of the household goods and toy store Meder in Bornheim for a year, it is the first Christmas business - and not an easy one, as he makes clear.

"People buy it, but the average receipt is significantly smaller than in previous years, despite rising prices." Instead of the big Lego world, it will just be a single Lego figure.

Nevertheless, the Meder boss, like other retailers, assumes that children save the least at Christmas.

And so he expects that remote-controlled cars, which also turn out to be bestsellers in this year's wish list campaign for needy children in his shop, will continue to sell well, as will the games of the year for children and adults.

His hope is also based on the inflation compensation bonus payments,

Philipp Keller, head of the household goods store Lorey in My Zeil, says his expectations are not too high, but overall the mood is not bad.

The frequency in November was right for him.

However, Lorey's receipts are also getting shorter.

In any case, people buy more consciously, says Keller, preferring quality.

His saleswomen are increasingly being asked where something is made.

Goran Djukic, owner of the boutiques for living and gifts, Liebesdienst Home and Men Limited, on Oeder Weg, who recently lost 40 percent of sales compared to the previous year, would have reason to complain, he says.

To keep himself and his customers happy, he has just commissioned paper bags that say Take Time to Smile.