The Robert C. Spies Property Group has brokered the sale of a mixed-use property at Breite Straße 21–22 in Bremen-Vegesack. The buyer is Gabriel & Söhne Immobilien GmbH, which operates as a regional property developer and project developer in Bremen and the surrounding area. Built in 1898, the property has a total residential and commercial floor area of around 934 m² and was, for decades, the home of the long-established, owner-managed bookshop Otto & Sohn.
A new mix of uses to revitalise Vegesack town centre
The property is situated on a central corner plot, directly opposite Vegesack’s pedestrian zone and the main shopping street, Gerhard-Rohlfs-Straße. A mixed-use concept is planned for the building. Student accommodation is to be created on the upper floor, whilst a restaurant area and a local convenience store are planned for the ground floor.
The planned change of use is intended to appeal to a variety of target groups and provide fresh impetus for the revitalisation of Vegesack town centre. “The planned repositioning demonstrates the potential of existing residential and commercial buildings for the further development of established town centre areas,” said Jan Schneider, managing partner of Robert C. Spies Immobilien im Bremer Norden GmbH.
“We believe in Bremen-Nord and in the future of its established town centres. Our investment in Vegesack is a tangible expression of this confidence. Vibrant town centres need people who live there, shop there and spend time there. This is precisely where our concept comes in. We want to further develop this historic building and help ensure that it remains an integral part of Vegesack’s town life in the future,” says Abraham Gabriel, Managing Director of Gabriel & Söhne Immobilien GmbH.
A long-established venue with a history
stretching back almost 100 years. Founded in 1927, the Otto & Sohn bookshop has shaped the cultural life of the neighbourhood for generations. The owner-managed business was regarded as a fixture in the north of Bremen and was awarded the Bremen Bookshop Prize in 2021. After almost a century, the active era of this long-established Vegesack bookshop has come to an end. The sale opens up new prospects for this long-standing venue.
“For many decades, the Otto & Sohn bookshop has been an integral part of life in Vegesack. We can look back on a long history marked by many successful years in business and a close connection to the location. We are therefore all the more delighted that the premises are now being given a new lease of life. We wish the new owners every success in realising their plans and hope that the building will continue to be a vibrant part of Vegesack’s town centre in the future,” says Martin Mader, former owner of Otto & Sohn.
