The scent of vibrant colors, quirky designs, and a certain audacious charm has permeated Sendlinger Straße for 35 years. Now, that era is drawing to a close. The cult design store Kare City Studio, a beloved institution in Munich’s city center, is shutting its doors, leaving behind a void for its loyal customers and adding another chapter to the changing face of urban retail.
A Farewell to an Icon: The Last Days of Kare City Studio
It’s late July 2026, and the air inside Kare City Studio is thick with a mixture of nostalgia and the buzz of a clearance sale. Discounts of up to 70 percent adorn zebra-print stools, gold-rimmed plates, and the store’s signature whimsical vases. For decades, this 380-square-meter space has been a treasure trove for those seeking the extraordinary – opulent peacock-printed sofa cushions, cheeky monkey figurines, and vibrant bookends that defied conventional tastes.
Stephanie Reiter, a dedicated Kare employee for 22 years, observes the melancholic reactions of customers. “People are sad,” she says, her voice tinged with understanding. “They ask: ‘What? You won’t be in the city center anymore?’ But Kare’s online sales have exploded so much that we had to rethink our physical locations.” Stephanie, whose sister is Kare co-owner Jürgen Reiter, knows the brand inside out. She used to work next door at Stierblut, a fashion store that was also part of the Kare family. “Customers will now have to make a small journey, including the gay community. There are many homosexual people in Munich who have an affinity for unusual home decor,” she notes. For her, the departure is bittersweet: “It was a wonderful time. At home, I have hardly anything but Kare. It suits me.“
More Than Just a Store: A Hub of Unconventional Style
Kare was never just a furniture store; it was a statement. Founded in 1981 by then-business students Jürgen Reiter and Peter Schönhofen, it emerged during a time when home decor was largely conventional. Their vision was to create furniture that was anything but boring, filled with fantasy and bold colors. This ethos resonated deeply with a segment of Munich’s population, creating a loyal following.
Martin Obermayr, the 58-year-old branch manager who has worked at the Sendlinger Straße store since 2000, reflects on the closure. “It’s a shame,” he says, gesturing around the eclectic space, which still features a heavily discounted white foosball table and a ceramic dachshund head mounted on the wall. “I’ve never seen so many vacant shops here for such a long time. It’s due to the high rents.” Obermayr laments the dwindling diversity in the city center, noting that “most small furniture stores have gone out of business.“
The Human Element: Customer Loyalty and Changing Times
Among the stream of customers is 78-year-old Marlene Koenen from Sendling, a regular for two decades. She’s buying a corner sofa and four dinner plates today, but her joy is tempered with sadness. “I’m sad that it’s closing here,” she confides. “This shop is cozy. I’ve been coming here for 20 years and know all the salespeople. There’s something for every taste, although pink plush stools are more for the young ones.” Looking out onto the pedestrian zone, she sighs, “Only sweet shops, cakes, and food stalls now, where there used to be pretty shops, like a lingerie store where two older ladies served me with calm and time, just like in the old days. The ‘pretty’ in Sendlinger Straße is missing!“
Mike Appiah, an event manager from Garching, is another devotee of Kare’s opulent style. His home is filled with Kare pieces – a large Mercedes photo, a glass table with a gold rim. “I’ve been buying decor here for ages; I like the style. You don’t see these things anywhere else,” he explains, as he picks out a champagne cooler for his guests.
A New Chapter: The Kare Kraftwerk
The good news amidst the farewell is that no employees will lose their jobs. The four staff members from the City Studio will transition to the massive Kare Kraftwerk in Obersendling – a design furniture store housed in an old power plant, boasting Alpine views. Lutz Niessen, a 62-year-old Kare employee from Glockenbachviertel, who previously cycled five minutes to the city store, views the move positively. “The working atmosphere here was very familiar,” he says, adding, “I love glass,” a nod to his personal vase collection, which Kare has undoubtedly enriched. He sees his future at the Kraftwerk as promising: “That’s the thing. Such a furniture store is unique in Europe.“
While the city center loses a piece of its unique character, the Kare brand, which celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2026, continues to thrive. From its humble beginnings as a student venture, it has expanded internationally, with stores in Vienna, Los Angeles, Miami, Bogotá, Caracas, and Santiago de Chile. The spirit of “never boring” and “always full of imagination” will continue, albeit from a new, grander location.
As the final days of Kare City Studio on Sendlinger Straße tick away, it leaves behind a legacy of bold design and a reminder of how urban landscapes evolve. The vibrant colors and imaginative pieces will soon be gone from this familiar spot, but the memories and the spirit of unconventional living will undoubtedly linger in the hearts and homes of those who cherished this unique Munich institution.
Source: https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/muenchen/nach-35-jahren-ist-schluss-kult-laden-in-muenchen-verlaesst-die-sendlinger-strasse-art-1146791
