Traditional butcher in Nuremberg concludes: The last curtain falls!

Traditional butcher in Nuremberg concludes: The last curtain falls!

Bleichstraße 26, 90429 Nürnberg, Deutschland - The traditional butcher shop at Bleichstraße 26 in Nuremberg-Himpelshof has closed its doors. The owner Stefan Skolik confirmed that the closure was carried out on April 30, 2025. In a Google statement, he thanks the loyal customers and mentions that the reasons for closure have not been specified, but refer to "various reasons". The rooms in the butcher's shop are now empty, the counter dismantled and only the lettering "butcher shop" is reminiscent of the once popular products.

Even if the butcher is no longer available by telephone and questions remain unanswered, a look at the Google reviews speaks a clear language: customer satisfaction was high, with an assessment of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Many customers praise the friendliness of the employees and the quality of the sausage and meat specialties offered as well as the lunch table.

a sad trend in the region

The closure of this butcher's shop is part of a worrying development in Nuremberg and the surrounding area. Many companies have had to throw the towel in recent years. Among the closed butchers are well -known names such as the Kleinlein butcher shop, which in September 2024 had to close their gates after more than 60 years due to financial difficulties and shortage of skilled workers. The company was founded in 1961 and not continued by the third generation because massive investments would have been necessary.

• Metzgerei Kleinlein - over 60 years in operation, closed in summer 2024
• Metzgerei Dürsch in Gostenhof - closed 3 years ago
• Metzgerei Krön in Schniegling - closed after 124 years
• Metzgerei Förderreuther in Fürth-Poppenreuth-closed after 50 years in 2020

The reasons for the decline in butchers are complex. In addition to changed eating habits, such as the trend towards vegetarian and vegan alternatives, economic factors are also mentioned. According to statistical surveys, meat consumption in Germany has dropped by over 8 kg since 2018. In addition, the companies are fighting with an acute shortage of skilled workers. In 2023, only around 2,300 young people went into an apprenticeship as a butcher, which represents a decline of almost five percent compared to the previous year. Over 9,500 trainees were still at the turn of the millennium, which shows a dramatic change.

an industry of challenges

The future of the butchers remains uncertain. Jörg Dittrich, President of the Central Association of German Crafts, calls for more social recognition and state support for craft professions. Many companies try to stay on the market through creative solutions such as meat machines or delivery services. Nevertheless, the challenge remains great to make the traditionally valuable craft attractive for younger generations.

The trend towards sustainability and species -appropriate animal husbandry is gradually also required by consumers. The butchers are faced with the task of communicating more transparently about the origin and processing of the meat. Despite the crisis situation, there are voices that look optimistically into the future, since new foundations and closings could eventually balance, as Reinhard von Stozz from the German Fleischer Association explains.

The developments around the butcher's shop in Nuremberg are part of a larger trend that affects the butcher's industry in Germany. As the Deutschlandfunk , there are still over 10,000 master companies in Germany, which corresponds to a drastic reduction in the past two decades.