After 122 years: finally closed department store Weigerstorfer in Nussbach

After 122 years: finally closed department store Weigerstorfer in Nussbach

Nußbach, Österreich - The Weigerstorfer department store in Nußbach (Kirchdorf district, Upper Austria) has finally closed after 122 years. This message was announced on the company's official Facebook page. The department store was founded in 1903 by Johann and Anna Weigerstorfer and served as a local supplier and a central meeting point in the village center over generations. With this closure, the era of the post office, which was also part of the department store, also ends.

The range not only included everyday food, but also specialties such as the well -known “Nussbacher Nussgeist”, which was created in 1948 by Maria Weigerstorfer. The closure is a difficult blow for the community, where the population already shares their disappointment and nostalgia about the many personal experiences in the business. In the future, packages in the neighboring community of Schlierbach will have to be picked up, which is an additional burden for many residents.

causes and effects of closure

The exact reason for closing the ADEG department store Weigerstorfer was not announced. The fourth generation of the Weigerstorfer family expressly thanked the customer for their loyalty in an emotional farewell to Facebook. At the same time, it remains unclear whether there will be a successor to the location. The search for a successor is running, but the existing challenges in rural regions limit the possibilities.

A study by SME research Austria on behalf of the Federal Committee Food trade shows that rural areas in Austria are increasingly under pressure. While urban centers have growth in grocery stores, the number of food retailers in rural regions drops. Closes by local suppliers are particularly noticeable in peripheral areas. From 2021 to 2022 there were short -term improvements, but the situation remains challenging in the long term.

• 382 municipalities in Austria are without local suppliers.
• The density of food retailers is an average of 101 shops per 100,000 inhabitants: inside.
• The decline in rural regions is up to 20 %.

Christian Prauchner, chairman of the Federal Committee Food Trade, emphasizes the indispensable role of local local suppliers for basic care and quality of life in small places. Therefore, the federal committee appeals to the federal government to offer support for local supply in rural regions. Targeted reforms are necessary to secure the supply in the long term and to reduce the bureaucracy for entrepreneurs: inside. In addition, tax relief from overtime and taxes on work is required.

The closure of the Weigerstorfer department store is not only a loss for the municipality of Nußbach, but also reflects the broader problems of local supply in rural regions. The developments in recent years confirm the urgency of investing in local care and finding solutions to maintain the quality of life in these areas.