Retail crisis: Keeping the chocolate shop

Before the election: What Berlin’s Bear Says About the City's Situation The bear statue at the former border crossing of Dreilinden near the Avus highway has become a symbol of Berlin’s current state. Once a welcoming figure, the sculpture now stands partially hidden in a box, with only its head visible. This sight reflects the broader condition of the city, which seems to require constant repair, improvement, or cleaning, just like many other aspects of life in Berlin. The bear, once a proud emblem of the city’s identity, now appears somewhat disheveled, even in its iconic form designed by Renée Sintenis, which can be found on road signs and postal stamps throughout the city. The bear has long been a symbol of Berlin’s complex history. When the city’s early founders chose it as their heraldic animal, they likely envisioned strength and power, perhaps even a nod to the city’s struggle against wild forests during its founding. Today, however, the bear is more often associated with gentle humor, a bit clumsy and lazily affectionate. Yet, this image is now marred by damage, suggesting that even the city’s symbolic figures are not immune to neglect. Two decades ago, Berlin was still described as poor but seductive, a phrase popularized by a former mayor, Klaus Woworeit. Since then, real estate agents from Stuttgart and developers from Hamburg have moved into the city, promising new opportunities. Startups have emerged, and the city’s budget has doubled. One might say Berlin has risen, though not without a descent into mediocrity. The city is now vibrant yet restless, struggling to maintain its unique character amid rapid change. Berlinians are becoming accustomed to mediocrity. For much of its history, the city remained isolated from others, with the bear serving as a kind of guardian spirit. At first, Berlin was rarely mentioned, often described as dull and dirty. But eventually, it became a center of Prussian glory, especially with the eight bears on the Red Town Hall, which stand proudly on two legs, holding shields with the Brandenburg eagle. During the Imperial era, Berlin thrived as a European powerhouse, exuding confidence and self-assurance, as seen in the marble “Sprea” by Jeremias Christensen in the Tierpark Friedrichsfelde, which symbolically supplied water to the city’s bear, and thus to the entire capital. Weimar-era Berlin was considered a metropolis caught between sin and melancholy. This mood is evident in works such as Hermann Joachim Pagel’s “Bear with Children” in the Volkspark Jungfernheide, which evokes a longing for comfort. After World War II, the world saw Berlin as a wounded yet lively frontline city. Many of the more experimental bear sculptures were created during this time, before the city rose again after reunification, becoming a place of unrealized hopes. Now, however, the city seems almost to be returning to its earlier, less glamorous beginnings. Political candidates are reflecting these concerns. Steffen Krach, leading the Social Democrats in the election campaign, launched a movement against littering in the city. His hundred-day program includes free visits to municipal waste collection services, starting immediately after his promise to accelerate public construction projects. “Berlin can take courage!” he says. Meanwhile, Stefan Evers, who took over as a candidate for the outgoing CDU mayor Kai Wegner, quickly addressed the issue. He proposes making residents who rely on social benefits responsible for picking up trash. If major political parties prioritize such measures, it suggests there may indeed be a problem in the city. The reasons behind this situation are numerous, and one of the most important is...