Numerous Offenbach residents accepted the invitation of the City of Offenbach and came to the opening ceremony of the newly designed market square on Saturday, September 9, on the occasion of Heimat Shopping. City Councillor Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Head of Planning and Building, was delighted with the positive response from the public:
"Thanks to the renovation, the market square now lives up to its name: it can be perceived as a square again and the newly gained space around the now central Ottomar Gassenmeyer fountain invites you to sit down and linger for a while."
With the conversion, the city of Offenbach has upgraded the most important entrance to the pedestrian zone and traffic interchange in the city centre and modernized the infrastructure. Stefan Becker, Chairman of Treffpunkt Offenbach, and Frank Achenbach from the Offenbach Chamber of Industry and Commerce, praised the "courage of the city" for this investment during an entertaining panel discussion on stage about the conversion and the development of the city center. The participants agreed that the market square could also be closed to traffic in the future for a good festival that strengthens the retail trade in the city center.
With wild boar bratwurst, Balkan burgers and wine, visitors enjoyed a wonderful summer evening in the middle of the market square. There were attractive prizes to be won in a raffle, including an e-bike. Tickets were available for those who had previously spent at least 20 euros shopping at the participating stores during the two-day Heimat Shoppens organized by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Economic Development Agency. The festival ended with a laser show.