The Lindhorst Group has signed a lease agreement with Europe’s largest electronics retail chain for the new Ems district currently under construction. MediaMarktSaturn is thus expanding its offering in the region and returning to Meppen after seven years.
In the future, the store will occupy an area of over 1,000 square meters on the ground floor in the immediate vicinity of Deichmann, Rewe and dm-drogerie markt. The range combines modern consumer electronics, computer and communication technology, household and DIY products as well as supplementary offers from the areas of mobility, leisure and multimedia.
Angelina Graudons, Managing Director of Ems-Quartier Meppen GmbH, about the new tenant: “With MediaMarkt, a strong and nationally known anchor tenant for the Ems-Quartier is returning to the city. The fact that MediaMarkt, as well as Deichmann and Woolworth as returnees as well as dm-drogerie markt, have chosen the location is a clear sign of confidence in our concept for us. Together with new offers, an attractive mix of proven brands and fresh ideas will be created, which will make the Ems-Quartier a versatile meeting point for the people of Meppen.”
Carsten Geilert, Chief Operating Officer at MediaMarktSaturn Germany, on the launch in Meppen: “With the reopening in Meppen, we are closing a gap between Papenburg, Nordhorn and Rheine and creating real added value for the city and the region. We are very pleased about a return to the Meppen location and firmly believe in brick-and-mortar retail. This is also underlined by our ‘Moments of Trust’ strategy: We want to create reliable moments for our customers in which they can experience personal advice, strong products and services that they can rely on. That’s why we’re very much looking forward to the launch in the new Ems district and to continuing to support the people of Meppen on site again in the future.”
Other tenants for the Ems quarter were already confirmed before the start of the project for the conversion of B&B HOTELS, REWE, Deichmann and the Emsland Music School. Since then, the return of Woolworth to the location as well as new tenants such as dm-drogerie markt, a fitness studio or a k-kiosk with a wide range of tobacco, lottery, snacks and press have also been announced.
About the revitalisation project Ems-Quartier Meppen – Focus on sustainability
The former shopping centre was emptied at the end of 2024 and has since been converted into a sustainable “mixed-use quarter” with a new mix of uses under the name Ems-Quartier Meppen until mid-2027. The approx. 23,000 square metres of space are planned to be used by tenants from the retail, gastronomy, office, fitness, B&B hotel segments as well as by the Emsland Music School and the underground car park.
The location of the Ems district is characterized by the border on the central Bahnhofstraße in the northwest of the city of Meppen as well as by its direct location on the southern branch of the Ems. This will make the property a link between the central station and the old town. In the immediate vicinity of the Ems district, the city has designated the new redevelopment area “Rechts der Ems”. Around 1,000 new residential units are to be built here by 2030.
468 parking spaces on two levels in the underground car park ensure convenient access to the Ems district regardless of the weather.
Sustainability is at the heart of the revitalisation
From the very beginning, it was a central concern for generation3 to preserve as much of the existing building fabric as possible. This approach conserves valuable resources and avoids the use of grey energy and the additional emission of emissions. The planned interventions are limited to the bare minimum, while targeted measures, such as partial lowering of the roof, create new possibilities for use and at the same time create a green, light-flooded inner courtyard.
An important goal is the BREEAM certification (information here) of the property with the desired classification “Excellent”. This includes, among other things, the integration of a photovoltaic system on the roof and the optimisation of operating costs.
Another focus is on regionality: The small-scale and very individual retail offer of the nearby old town is sensibly supplemented by the new EQM with well-known chain stores. In order to promote the local economy, regional construction companies and service providers in particular will continue to be involved in the project development. This holistic concept combines ecological, economic and social sustainability and gives the project a forward-looking character.
