First fashion, now records: From May, Maximilian Eichenlaub and his project "Sphere" will move into the test room at Grosse Marktstrasse 39 in Offenbach. "Our next tenant in the test room is a real music and record fan. This is something special in our city center. Music to browse through and records to touch - that's exactly the kind of bold ideas we want to make possible with the Testraum-Allee," says a delighted Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke.
In addition to new and used records, 30-year-old Maximilian Eichenlaub also wants to sell accessories such as vinyl cleaners or matching record bags in the test room. "I have a large network of vinyl lovers in Offenbach who are happy to give me their records. I own 2,500 records myself, most of which I want to sell in the test room," says Eichenlaub, explaining the core of his business concept. He will also stock records by artists from the region in his repertoire and focus on electronic music in his selection. "Music is something timeless, music connects all age groups. Being able to virtually hold music in your hand with vinyl is something special that you cherish," says the music lover.
Eichenlaub continues: "Music is a valuable way of communicating and getting to know each other. I want to bring people together in one place who have the same hobby and share a passion. I would like to create this place in Offenbach in the long term and have already looked at possible businesses. The test room is now the ideal opportunity for me to do exactly what the name says: to test how my ideas work in real life."
Max Eichenlaub is moving into the test room until the end of July. The city has already received a number of applications for use in August and September, which are currently being reviewed.
For designer Tanja Ronaghi, the time in the test space is going surprisingly well: "The response has been great and I've already been able to sell a few pieces. Having a store in this central location is a great advantage. I would recommend the test space to anyone who wants to try out their business concept first."
The test space is available to entrepreneurs free of charge for one to three months and is already fully furnished, whereby the furniture, so-called modules, can be provided individually.
From May 3, the opening hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
About the "Test Room Alley"
The "Testraum-Allee" is a project of the city center future concept in cooperation with Agentur Mitte and Offenbach offensiv and aims to sustainably upgrade and expand the retail sector. The project focuses on the conversion of vacant properties with the aim of establishing high-quality retail, gastronomy and service businesses in Offenbach's city center that are economically viable in the long term. The future project "Testraum-Allee" aims to establish new, high-quality and economically viable store concepts in vacant or threatened (ground floor) store spaces in the city center. The aim is to increase the attractiveness of Offenbach's city center and provide impetus for a vibrant and lively city center from which businesses, owners and citizens alike can benefit. Three projects have been implemented and supported to date: the temporary OFTEN department store, the "Doki Doki" concept store and the Mini-Market at M. Schneider.
Further information:
More information on the future concept for the city center
German city centers are undergoing radical change as a result of the shrinking retail sector. Against this backdrop, the city of Offenbach developed a future concept for the city center back in 2020 together with the people of Offenbach, the Offenbach offensiv association, which is close to the Offenbach Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the planners from urbanista - a concept that now comprises 16 projects. The aim, as Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke emphasizes, is to strengthen the remaining retail trade and enable new trade. However, because it will no longer be like it used to be, completely new reasons to come to the city center are also to be created. The 16 projects in the city center future concept are therefore deliberately different offerings in order to maintain the heart of the city as an inviting and lively place. More than half of the projects are already being implemented. The city of Offenbach is working hard to shape change - together with numerous inner-city and external stakeholders. Together, they want to make the city center lovable.
