Statement by Mayor Haase on Galeria's renewed filing for bankruptcy
Today, Friday, October 2, 2026, the Galeria department store chain filed for bankruptcy. This also affects the Galeria department store in Mainz, which operated under the name Kaufhof for many decades. This would mark the fourth insolvency proceeding for Galeria and its predecessor within seven years.
Mayor Nino Haase stands in solidarity with the employees—just as he did in 2024:
“The news comes as a shock to the employees. Once again, they have to endure this uncertainty. It was only two years ago that the Mainz branch was even slated for closure during the last insolvency proceedings. Back then, we managed to prevent the closure because management, the works council, the building owner, and the city maintained close communication and worked together as a team.
As in 2024, I am in constant communication with corporate and store management and am fully aware of the situation. The good news is: Mainz remains one of the strongest stores in the Galeria Group. And overall, the key figures speak in favor of Mainz as a retail location—with high foot traffic, strong commercial revenue, and record-breaking tourism numbers. Mainz-specific promotions, such as “Zero-Euro Saturday”—which even made headlines beyond the region—are also noticeably revitalizing the retail sector.
Our goal is clear: We, the people of Mainz, want Galeria to have a future in our city and to be able to continue developing with fresh ideas. To this end, Manuela Matz, the city’s commissioner for economic affairs, and I are working together with the employees—to ensure Mainz remains an attractive and modern shopping destination.”