Vacancies on the rise

Many vacancies: Mahü is degenerating into a junk mile

Three empty stores next to each other: more will follow.

(Bild: Urbantschitsch Mario/Mario Urbantschitsch)

The once thriving shopping street is suffering from increasing vacancies, while well-known brands are pulling out and building sites and homelessness dominate the scene. We spoke to shopkeepers and took a look behind the scenes.

Mariahilfer Straße was once one of Vienna's most prestigious shopping streets alongside Kärntner Straße. But today there is not much left of its former glory. A local inspection reveals the worrying state of the street: vacant stores dominate the scene, sometimes three empty stores stand right next to each other - a sight that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. 

The closure of the Nike flagship store recently made headlines, but the "Krone" has received information that another fashion giant with a huge sales area is already preparing to leave Mariahilfer Strasse.